It's the end of life as I know it!

Today was the end of life as I know it! Well this month is really! I am so excited to be done with school! As Trent can attest to I have been very stressed out the past couple of days preparing for my PRAXIS exam! I passed both the reading and the math sections and in 15 business days I will know if I am going to actually have a chance to get into my licensing program for fall, when I receive my writing scores!! I have to thank the Lord! He truly blessed me through my test! I am so grateful for father's blessings and for a father that is a worthy priesthood holder that could give me one!  With out the Lord there is no way I would have been able to remain so calm through out my test! So Thank you HEAVENLY FATHER!  

Other reasons for beginning a new page in life:

*A TOILET UPSTAIRS-- Yes my family has been sharing one bathroom. It happened to be downstairs so in the mornings I would have to force my self to get out of bed, to hike down the stairs to the bathroom! NOT ANY MORE!! :)

(No Our Toilet does not look like this but I thought it was pretty cool!)

*Heidi and Dave and Anna-- They final came home! At least for Christmas! It was a very exciting reunion as everyone danced around excited to see how healthy they are and excited to see how big Anna has gotten! Of course the cousins attacked her! At one point I walked into the TV room to find them laying on her on the couch! Funny Nieces and Nephews!

*REMODELING almost finished!!--  They laid the carpet in the TV room, refinished the floors and tomorrow is the day for all the shelves and things in the bathrooms! I am excited to have a clean house again!

Life has been busier than ever! But I am ready for a break! I am so excited for December 31st! Why you may ask?? Well Trent has invited me to go to DISNEYLAND WITH HIS FAMILY!! I am so excited! 3 days in the happiest place on EARTH!! I am really excited to go again with Trent! I just love being with him and adding Disney makes it even better!

I AM DONE WITH MY BACHELORS!!!

HURRAY!!! 

I am now officially done with my bachelors degree!! I just took my last final! Pretty sure I aced it! It was so easy! I will have my degree in Human Development and Family Studies: Early Childhood education. It took my a semester longer than most girls my age but I am done! Now I just have to get my license so that I can have my own Kindergarten class someday! 

I am so happy to be done!! 

Now on to all the stresses on my mind: 

* applying for license

*applying for my masters

*getting transcripts

*taking the praxis I

*taking the GRE (writing section)

*getting my background check (Man I hope I pass) 

* getting all my letters of recommendations

* waiting for christmas

*what to get T for christmas (any suggestions)

* Getting my room clean for Heidi and Dave

*Finishing the house stuff

*Calling Jenni (my counselor) 

*Finding out when I can walk (maybe I'll wait until I finish my masters)

*Finding out if my humanities in High School counts as a transfer credit

* OH HOW THE LIST GOES ON!!!'

The other night my mind was going crazy I couldn't sleep because things just kept piling up! I hope that my brain decides to calm down!! 

OH THE FIRST DAY OF SNOW!!!

So I went to work today not expecting 6 inches of snow!! I wore slippers!! Anyway it was fine in the morning but come afternoon there was a ton of snow! I wasn't going to take my kids outside to play because...well I am a baby! Well kids have their way of driving you crazy enough to take them outside in the white out!! When we got outside it wasn't to cold! I love fresh snow days when the snow is pure white and the earth is so calm! I was enjoying it! Despite my slippers! AND THEN IT HAPPENED!! I called to my kids to line up and discovered that two of them were missing! When I went to my door they had already let themselves inside, locking the door behind them! YES I WAS LOCKED OUT!! I was livid! and then to top it off I pounded on the door and they just looked at me, laughed, went and hid in the corner of the room! I ran to the kindergarten door and went and opened my door! 

Needless to say I was frustrated and not so happy!! 

But the kids left pretty early and I was happy for that!!

The best part of my day was morning circle time! We talked about careers and jobs! We asked each of the kids what their parents do for work! WELL KIDS SAY THE DARN-EST THINGS! One kids says... My dad plays baseball (His dad is the U of U baseball coach), another says my Mom is a heart doctor, and helps people (which is true), one child says My dad watches TV, and my favorite response "Them don't do anything"!! 

Everything pays off when you have those amazing comments!! 

12-0, Mountain West Conference CHAMPS!!

THE BLACKOUT!!

I don't Know who's Idea this was but it was a fun change! U of U's game against TCU was called the BLACK out game! The Football team had all new BLACK Jersey's! It was Awesome! All of the true fans were decked out in BLACK! It was mighty cold so I was happy for the BLACK coat I got to wear!

The MUSS had Blackout sweatshirts to buy to, check out Trent's new Sweatshirt!

GO UTES!!

Olivia after finishing our messy Nachos!

After the Game all of the students rushed to field! This became a game ritual after this!

Trying to keep WARM!

Okay

so last week was the year waited amazing game that topped our season off with a undefeated streak!

We not only killed BYU we slaughtered them!

GO UTAH!!

Thanks to BYU's Players for throwing away the GAME!! Truly they were our MVP's!

After Crushing The Cougars

Go UTES!! Rush the Field!!

Crazy Utah Fans!! Check out the Toilet Paper!

Olivia Had a Half of Coke and was off the Walls! Drunk basically!

Erin and I!!

It was a great season of U of U football!

I am curious though, in the 3 years Trent was gone and not on the MUSS, the Utes sucked!

But this year was just a repeat of the first year Trent and I were in the MUSS together in 2004! We went 12 and 0 then to!!

Coincidence??? I think not!

Trent is just our good luck charm!! ;)

GO T!!!

Baby Lillian Jane Curtis

On November 18, 2008 at around 3 in the morning I was awakened by my mom saying,

 "Holly's water broke we need to get to the hospital."

  So I jumped up not realizing what time it was! Got ready to call in sick to my work! Not needed, it was early! 

SO I met Holly at the hospital, and I took the girls off her hands.  I got to take care of Sydney and Cate, while Holly did the Hard work. We watch videos on my laptop until 7:00am when Holly had little Miss. Lily! She is so so sweet, a beautiful healthy baby!  

Here is a slide show of the fun stuff that happened that bright and early morning!

My Cute Kids!

These are my darling kids! I have 16 of them and they are a bundle of chaos but each day I love watching them learn and grow! It is such a reward to see them learn something new!

Happy Halloween Crazy CRITTERS!!!

Well it's been a fun but crazy week!! I had so much fun with my Crazy Critters! As many know I teach 3 year olds, 16 of them! It is way fun! Last week was the letter S and we made lots of fun crafts; Spiders, Skeletons, Scarecrows, Square Monsters, and many more!

Thursday we had a center party and celebrated Halloween by playing games and going trick or treating!

My room had the pumpkin cake walk! I think we had one of the most popular rooms! The kids walked in a circle on the pumpkins and when the music stopped they found a pumpkin and we drew a number. Whom ever was on that number got a cupcake!

This is part of my room! Our spiders and leaves are hanging from the ceiling!

Here are our little Square Monsters! We read Go Away Green Monsters and then they made their own!

This is my quiet corner where the kids sit and read! We have a tree and a pumpkin patch! The tree has been changing colors each season!

My Kids each made skeletons that had S's for the body! They turned out really cute but were a ton of work! They are more at a kindergarten level but we did finish!

Needless to say by the end of the two weeks my classroom was pretty colorful and way gotty! But it was fun!

Now onto Thanksgiving; Indians, Pilgrims and Turkeys!

Lucky Woman...

Ok so during relief society today we talked about Joseph Smith and his family! Well the chapter was mostly letters from him to Emma showing how much her cared, trusted, and loved her! He used the most amazing words! Over and over he said my heart is ENCIRCLED with love for you! Any way I just thought it was so sweet and endearing! I continually wished that we talked that way this day and age.  

...well later on I was sitting in sacrament thumbing through my scripture when I happened upon a letter from Trent.  I read through it! It was so cute and beautiful! I love him so much!  I figured it was from his mission but it was just signed T. I looked at the date and it was from May 2008! Some how he slipped it in my scriptures and I had no idea! Finding it today was just perfect! It was everything I was hoping for during the lesson in relief society! 

So THANK YOU TRENT!! I love you so much! You are such a sweetheart! 

No Comment...

Ok well my sister Heidi who lives in Michigan said I hadn't updated my blog in a while! Well there is not much to update! Same old same old! 

I am excited for this week! HALLOWEEN!!! I have been planning they lessons for my preschool class the past two weeks! This week went really well! I'll take pictures of my classroom and all the fun activities we did! 

For Halloween we are having a family party I am super excited! I am excited to have the parents see all the fun things we are working on. I am also excited to be able to interact with the parents and see how they interact with their children! 

My kids have been so so chaotic lately. But kids say the Darnest things!! I love all of them and love having them in my class! 

So that is the basic update! 

General Conference Weekend!

Well as most of you know it was general conference weekend! For me it was a pretty amazing weekend. Last Sunday my bishop recommended that we try and visit the temple before conference to better focus our minds.  Trent and I were able to go on Wednesday night. It was crazy how busy the temple was that evening.  But I am glad we went.

On Saturday morning I woke up wide awake at 10:00am on the DOT!! I was so amazed how awake I was! It made me excited to turn on conference. I knew this was because I had attended the temple that week to prepare for conference.  I really enjoyed Elder Perry's talk.  He spoke on so many things but one of the things that I can't get out of my head is dressing modestly for the Lord.  Not only wearing clothing that covers your body but also wearing clothing that doesn't flaunt your money or make you feel a certain way.  I think all of us need a good reminder of what to wear and not to wear.

Another talk on Saturday that I loved was President Uchtdorf.  Lately he seems to be talking a lot about having JOY in all that we do.  I have tried to take that to heart and truly find joy in everything.  I am trying hard no to argue or get to frustrated with things. It has helped me change my outward look on life. 

This weekend was also really fun because I was able to go spend it with the Young's in Park City.  It was great to feel apart of the family.  I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for inviting me.  I enjoyed being with Trent all weekend and being able to share in the spirit of conference with him and his family. Thanks again! 

On Sunday again I woke up wide awake but this time it was at 8:30am. No one else was awake, so I was able to enjoy a quiet few hours on my own writing in my journal and just reflecting. I know that because I listened to my bishop and his guidance that I got a lot more out of this weekend than I usually do over conference.  

I am so grateful to the Lord for allowing us to listen to the prophets voice and to get guidance from his councilors. It is truly amazing that we have this gospel and the knowledge of having a living prophet. I love the Lord and  I LOVE CONFERENCE! I say these things in the name of my brother, friend, and SAVIOR Jesus Christ Amen. 

Missing those Fun summer days!!

Just thought I'd post some pictures from the 

GRANDE OL' SUMMER!!

Go UTES!!

Ok so lately Trent and I have had lots of fun days! Especially going to the u of u games!! I love U games! I get so into them! I look forward to them and being with Trent! 

Take a look at the fun times we have had!!

Go UTAH!! 4 and 0!

Boring Life of a NAt!

Well I thought I would just update you all on what is not going on in my life!! ha ha

Well Life is just plain and dandy! Basically Everyday is the same...Except for those special days when T gives me a wake up call! (I tell you what that is the best way to wake up in the morn!! ) But the boring days I wake up at about 8:20 to be to work by 9:00am! Which I am usually late! But I am working on!  I teach my class from 9 to 6! with only a 45 min. break! Some days I wanna scream, some days I wanna cry, some days I wanna quit, but most days I find my self looking at a child of mine and realizing..."this is why I am in this profession!" I love my kids they are so funny! Kids honestly say the darnest things!  Like the other day I was holding up a t-shirt that would fit a 2 year old and said who's is this, Can I wear it...one of the kids looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Miss Natalie that's to big for you!" My co-teacher and I were laughing like crazy! Guess you had to be there! 

After work I drive home! I finally get to talk to Trent again! It's gotta be a highlight of the day! We both go home and eat dinner and then we get together! and well since we are both so tired by the end of the day we usually are doing 1 of 3 things...homework, watching "Smallville," or Sleeping! Then we call it a night and it starts all over again the next day!!

Wednesdays are a little different I have class after work so I get to go listen to Professor FUNKE! Yes FUNK! He is so awesome! Basically we talk about kid books! So it is fun! 

I am working on my internship stuff and applying for my licensing! But that is about it to my life right now!! 

Just living each day with every breath I take!! 

I got DIAMONDS!

Ok not what you are thinking!! 

But I love Trent so so much and he is so sweet! He spoiled me for our anniversary! I am so grateful!! 

He gave me 2 dozen of the most beautiful red red long stem roses! They were already cut in the most amazing arrangement! I love him so much! 

and then to make the night even better...as we got up to leave for the night he took a box out of his pocket! Of course my stomach completely dropped! As I opened it I found the most beautiful diamond loop earring! He is so amazing! I love him!

Thanks For a happy anniversary T!!!

See you soon...

I am really going to miss you Heidi and Dave and Anna!

But I am so so excited for your exciting adventures in Michigan! You are going to learn so much! So as much as I am going to go through withdrawals I'm excited to explore new things with you!

Things I am excited for...

-Trying out web-cam

-Seeing pictures of Anna growing

-Traveling to see you

-Hearing about Dave's school

-Hearing about the city of Ann Arbor

-and much much more!

I love you all! and will look forward to Christmas!!

To My LOVE!!

Happy 5 years!

Words can not express how much I love you!

You are so incredible, happy, amazing, handsome, wonderful, it just keeps going!

Through these 5 years I have never been happier! The day I met you June 6 or so, 2003 I knew I loved you! I know that my friends and I annoyed you like crazy with text messages, and calling! It's kinda madding to look back at! But that couple months later when I was cuddling with some other guy (whom will not be named) and he called some friends and you showed up at my house...I will never forget! From that day on (after you took a stalker picture of me on your phone) we were inseparable! I loved every second with you... talking on the phone until 3 am... even you pinching my neck to make me cringe so I would sit closer to you! One of my favorite moments was the night of August 9th morning of the 10th when we laid on my couch and you said you didn't know how to do it... do what I asked... Kiss you, you said...I know you would claim that I kissed you laying on that couch. But the moment I remember that was so amazing was when I walked you out to your car to say goodbye for a couple weeks and you turned and kissed me! It was like the world stopped! I was already falling in love with you! Then you gave me a CD which I listened to (it and only it) my whole trip! I love you!

...and then I came home and we were back to square one! Not talking to each other at school! Weird we were! We talked every night for hours on end! You didn't take me to homecoming but instead made fun because I had to go with some skyline kid I didn't even know! I know you were jealous! ( at least I hope you were!) But I think after that and me forcing you to go to monster mash with me... we were inseparable again!

March 1st 2004, you sent me this text message..." I think I am falling in love with you. and there isn't anything that make me happier than being with you." From that day on it has remained on my phone!

I love you so much! It seems like just yesterday we met! I can't believe I have you to hold me! You are so amazing! Thank you so much for being my best friend through all these years! For being the one I can go to and talk to and tell anything too! You are such an amazing man! I love you with all my heart!! This only recalls a few of our memories together! But I could go on for hours! But instead I will tell you....

"I will Love you forever, and forever. Love you with all my heart! Love you when ever we're together, Love you when we're apart! "

I LOVE YOU!! Happy Anniversary!

First Week on the JOB!!!

Well My first week was way exciting!! I am working with the 3 year olds and I love it!! They are so cute!! I have 15 kids! One I have never met because she is super sick in the hospital, but the rest I have come to love dearly!! They are such cute kids!! 

Waking up was an accomplishment but my body is already use to it! I wake up around 7:30am every day! Get ready and leave for work by 8:30am! When I arrive I right down the time and go into my class! The day is packed full but never very organized! I am trying to change that! When I arrive we put sunscreen on and finish cleaning up centers. 

The Schedule for every day

*Center Time

*Snack Time

*Outdoor time

*Circle Time (Calendar)

*Choice Centers

*Lunch

*2 HOUR nap time!!

*Small Centers

*Snack

*Outdoor Time

*Circle Time (Learning Concept)

*Small Groups

*Centers 

*Parent Pick up!!

Days go by fast! Here is my basic first week run down!

MONDAY! WOW I arrived at work and they put me strait to the books training! I had to read a 180 page manual! It was a lot of reading and reviewing from all my classes I have taken! It focused on diaper changing, washing hands, developmentally appropriate practice, getting along with others, medical help, food handling, etc.  SO EXCITING! NOT! After I finished I took my one hour break and was put into the class room! Meeting all the kids was so fun!! Basically I just got the feel of the classroom! My walls were so blank, there seemed to be no control! Immediately My co-teacher and I got along! We discussed the room and decided to totally redo all the walls! There wasn't one alphabet posted or numbers! It was just so plain. Pictures were falling off  the walls, so I started to tear stuff down. The walls were blank for a few days!

TUESDAY! My first full day in the classroom! My co-teacher kinda let me take the reins.  We were talking about food and nutrition.  The kids really get along well! I love them! I can't believe that they all take almost 2 hour naps! 

Basically the rest of the week followed just like the beginning! I continued to add to the room walls! I went to all-a-dollar and sent around $25 on supplies to decorate the room! It is finally turning into a preschool room more than a day care! Everyday has a theme which is fun! 

WEDNESDAY! Is bike day! Each kid brings their own bike from home with a helmet! They are able to ride their bikes during outdoor play.

Thursday is water day!! So all the kids wear swimming suits and run through the water during outdoor play! 

Friday is Ice cream day! The ice cream man actually comes and sells ice cream to the kids!

Everyone seems to like me! I was told by the cook that I was a teacher sent from heaven.  I guess the previous teacher was horrible and didn't get along with the rest of the staff! I felt really bad about that. But she seemed to treat the class like a daycare rather than a preschool and wouldn't take input from anyone.  I am trying to change that. I guess she would bribe the kids with candy in order to get them to do stuff! She also rewarded with stickers! I don't believe in those kinds of rewards.  I think learning and accomplishing a skill should be for the child's own knowledge and growth rather than just for a treat! 

My Co-teacher says that she loves coming to work now! So that makes me happy! I am glad that I can be a positive influence! 

Anyways...I really enjoy my class! I am excited this week we are focusing on our bodies! Today we traced their bodies! We will continue to add and build! I think the parents are seeing the difference which is awesome! 

 I love my JOB!!

UPDATE!!! 4TH of JULY!!

Well I have been gone for a while so here is a brief or not so brief update!!

Trent got home on the 17th and we had 3 amazing days together! Then I took off to Bear Lake! It was my families week in Bear Lake and it was so much fun! I am getting a lot better at wake boarding! Although my arms wanted to kill me after the first few days! I defiantly got stronger! I feel like the whole week we never stopped eating! It was great to be with family!

Thursday, I went on a wild goose chase up the canyon to a cave called Minnotonka! It means running water! The drive was half the adventure! Using Dave and Heidi's GPS we followed the directions up these little back canyon roads with the cutest ranch houses! At one point we made a wrong turn and the GPS said "RECALCULATING!" All of us laughed so hard! All though it got us to the right canyon it wanted us to take these side dirt streets and didn't match the signs so it continued to say..."Recalculating...recalculating!" It was so funny! We finally made it to the beginning of the cave! (No thanks to the GPS) Inside the cave it is a constant 40 degrees and never changes no matter what time of year! At the very end of the tour the turn off all the lights! In caves is the darkest place you can ever be! The tour guide asked if Someone had a diamond ring! My sister Heidi walked up and she shined a red laser on the diamond! It shot of little specs of light everywhere! It was so pretty! I guess if your diamond is fake it was send off just lines! If it is really it is little specs of light like a disco ball! 

   So for those of you with diamonds go into a dark room and shine a laser on it and find out how truly lucky you are!!

Friday was one of the best days! The FORTH OF JULY!! Trent came up around 1:00pm! and spent the day and evening with me! It was so fun to be on the lake and enjoy each others company!

One of the funniest moments of the week was the so called "amazingly spectacular" fireworks show! ha ha! There was a firework every five seconds! It was like an old man was slowly lighting them and after he lit one he would watched go off and then sit for a few seconds before lighting the second! ha ha! The best part was the whole town showed up for it! 

Trent had to go back down for work on Saturday! But he was a great wake up call that morning! He then returned around 6:00pm and we went out on the lake boating!! He did such an amazing Job wake boarding! I thought for sure he broke something every time he fell! It sounded like he hit way hard!

Sunday we went to church and then after an amazing steak dinner we headed home! Trent, Me and MY GRANDMA! It was fun to hear her stories as we drove! Trent decided to take the Logan canyon way home and if you haven't made that drive put it on a list of places to see!

 It is a beautiful canyon!

We made it home safely and all is well!! 

Its been a long week...only 6 more days!

Well it's been a long week with out Trent but I am getting by!!  Thanks to family and friends! My friend Emily and I stayed up until 4 am on Friday scrap booking! It was so much fun! We got a lot done and watched so many chick flicks! I am so grateful for good friends! 

Tonight I email my new job because I hadn't heard from them! He got back to me so fast which I am grateful for! Because I would have fret about it all night!! Anyway he told me that I am actually going to work with the Preschool class which is 3 to 5 year olds!  I am so excited because I felt like working with the 2 year olds I was just baby sitting! Now I am actually going to be teaching!! I am not starting until the 7Th! So that is great cause I can finish working at Topham's and enjoy a vacation in Bear lake for a few days! 

Well that is kinda an up date of my life right now! I am excited for Trent to get home and can't wait!! I love him! and can't wait to see him!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVE!!

I just wanted to say happy birthday TRENT!!!!
I am so grateful I was able to tell you that this morning!!
I love you so much and I am so grateful to have such an amazing best friend!!
I don't know what I would do with out you!
Just know that I love you and miss you!!
I hope you have an amazing time in Switzerland!!
Spoil yourself because I am not there to do it for you!!

SMILE!
I love you!

Thank goodness for wireless!!

Well so my best friend is in Switzerland and I miss him terribly! But tonight was amazing! It was 8:30 am his time...and 12:30 am my time! When I signed on my computer and we got to video chat! I got to see his face and hear his voice! It was amazing!! I am so unbelievably grateful for technology!! It was fun to make faces at each other from half way across the world! I also got to say hi to some of his family! It made for a nice finish to a busy day!
I love you Trent!!

Snow Bird With The MG's!

I think the pictures speak for themselves! I absolutely love these girls! They Kept me sane on the day that Trent left me again for 10 days!

We got a little crazy! Here are some fun pictures and classic things said!

Megan Had a little fun being pushed around in the chart! But her head hurt after!

Don't forget to stop and eat the flowers!

Smile your on candid camera!

Goof Balls!
They stole my camera!

Kellie realized that she's not gonna be wearing her cute panties all her life! :(

Ummm Lack of trail to walk up!! Check out the girls shoes if you can see them!

Don't worry we all survived!! ha ha Snow and tank tops!

BEAUTIFUL Scenery!