Lindsey's Life

One, Two, Three Strikes Your Out!

2012-02-06T18:25:00.000-08:00

So this last weekend my old high school got together some of the alumni softball girls and wanted us to play in a alumni softball game. I was very excited, I have not played softball in a while let alone fast pitch! So I was also a little nervous. But sure enough I went to the field and saw my old friends that I used to play with, and I no longer cared if I was amazing horrible I was just glad to see them and catch up. We also used to have a lot of fun, so I was hopping we would also have a lot of fun!

Well needless to say...we didn't win! I got one hit out of three, one error! So needless to say I didn't get better with age! I was definitely better in high school! Even though we lost we sure had some fun!

Here are all the alumni players that played in the game!

Here are all the sister that played on both teams!

Here is the Triangle. This is the nick name that we gave our selves my junior year. We all three played the same sports and were all on the Varsity teams for all of them. So we hung out all the time. However Nicole who is on the left was a senior so once she graduated we figured that we wouldn't be able to hang out like we did! So we called ourselves the Triangle so we would always be linked! We haven't seen each other since we all graduated so it was good to see them again!

Like I said even though we lost, and I was sooo sore afterward and I have bruises to prove it. We sure had a lot of fun! I really can't wait till next year!

George Strait

2012-02-06T17:24:00.000-08:00

So my cousin got some tickets for her birthday! Not just any ticket GEORGE STRAIT tickets! Lets just say I am kinda a big fan! I grew up listening to good old George. So I was just a little bit excited. I am incredibly lucky that I was able to get to go so I thought I would share some pictures!

Here we are! Getting ready for the concert!

Here is a cute old couple that was sitting in front of us with cute matching jackets!

Here is his opening act! Martina McBride!

Here is good old George! For his age he can sure entertain!

Quilt

2012-02-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

So do you remember that I quilt I said that I made a while back. Well its FINALLY done! I am so excited to show it off to you guys! Am I sure where I am going to put it not really! But its done! So here it is!

Two Thousand and Twelve

2012-01-28T13:02:00.000-08:00

HaPpY LaTe NeW YeAr!!!

I can not believe that it is 2012! it seems like just yesterday that I was ringing in the new year for 2011. I am very excited for the new year and all the adventures that I can have. Every year I make new years resolution, and EVERY year I never see them through. So this year I tried to do it a little different so I could possibly see them through... This year instead of doing resolutions for the year I am going to break them down into the months. We will see how long I can do this for. So I am hoping the more people I tell it will hold me more accountable. I know everyone has the same resolutions like losing weight, read the scriptures, pay tithing, etc. So here are some of mine right now.

* Lose weight (preferable 5-10 pounds a month)
*Go to the Temple once a month
*Go on 2 dates a month(It used to be to get married...but if you know me at all that resolution has gone down the drain every year!)
*Go on an adventure every month(whether it doing on a trip to a different state, going somewhere in Arizona that I have never been, or do something I have never done.)

So those are just a few on mine for the year/January. They are not set in stone they will change every month. Lets hope that I can keep them going all year long.

Early Merry Christmas

2011-12-17T06:25:00.000-08:00

Okay lets face it I am horrible at updating my blog. I keep saying I will and then it never seems to happen. It also could be that I don't have very much to update you all on, if you know me at all you will know I am not very adventurous. SO since I don't have very much to update you on my life I will update you on my AmAzInG FaMiLy.

First my favorite and only sister: My sister Lauren has been working very hard at her job which is a hair stylist at great clips. She has been there a little over a year and she just got a job promotion to be the manager at her store. She is only 21 and she took on some responsibility. I could not be more happy for her. I now know that it was just an act when we were younger that she would make me do everything for her. :-)

Second is my oldest brother Ryan: I have posted about my amazing brother before on my blog. I can not remember what I said before but if I have said it once I am sorry cause you are going to get it again. Ryan is such an amazing brother he would come and get me in the pouring rain in Mexico if my car broke down. He would be cursing me the entire way but he would be there. He is also a hard worker, amazing father and husband. My wonderful brother has been able to keep his construction job in this amazing economy, so that would tell you how awesome of a worker he is. However he has an amazing opportunity to work at another construction company to do more of what he wants to do instead of messing with the politics at his old job he is now getting to over see more building of homes. I now what ever Ryan does he will be amazing at it.

Third is my older brother Robert: Robert and I are the most alike in our family. We are the quieter ones if the family (and you all know how quite i am so you can just imagine how the other two are!) We have more of the Connolly physical features over the Stokes. We also ride with the punches where the other two do the same but with a little more force. You would think that it would not be possible to have two awesome brothers but Heavenly Father has blessed me with two. Robert has been working himself to death working a full time job and going to school to be a fire fighter. Well his hard work has paid off, he recently got hired as a fire fighter in Cottonwood. He is such an example to me to find something I love and work very hard to get it. Now when I see my brother talk about his work he has a huge smile on his face and can't wait to get back and help people.

Fourth is my dad: He has not had any big changes in his life either but he has shown he how generous and caring and giving he is. He is all through the year but around this time he makes his wishes known. all he wants for Christmas is no presents but for us to help out the people that need it. I know that he loves me and wants only good things for me. He is such an example to me and has so many qualities that I hope I can find in my husband.

Fifth and final I am going to tell you about my brilliant mother: my mom has always been a hard worker. She has been there for all of our games, plays, and school activities. One thing my mom has done is she decided that she was going back to school to become a teacher. Once she got married to my dad they started a family and was unable to finish. So I when I was a senior in high school she decided that she wanted to finish her degree. Three years later she finished her goal. She got her teaching degree and became a teacher. If that was not enough she went back to school and got her masters degree. Yesterday my mom graduated from NAU with her masters degree. I am so proud of her and the determination that she had to finish her degree with a full time job and family.

Here is a picture to show off my amazing family. Here we all our last Christmas getting ready for the Polar Express.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Please remember this time is not about the presents but His presence.

Arn't We Cute

2011-09-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Robert and Ryan Lindsey and LaurenOur picture was done about 20 years ago my brothers picture was about 25 years ago. My mother has had these up on her wall ever since these were taken. If this doesn't scream 70's or 80's I don't know what does. But recently I re-did our pictures had them re-framed and turned into sepia instead of full color. They turned out pretty good. I just thought to share with you all to show how cute kids we all were! Of course I am a little bias. But I am not the only one, I got so many compliments on them! So I thought that I would share how cute we were with you all!

10 Years...

2011-09-09T15:39:00.001-07:00

10 years ago I was 14. 10 years ago I was a freshman at Mingus Union High School. 10 years ago the Arizona Diamond Backs won there 1st ever world series. 10 years ago something happened to our country that woke up many Americans into realizing we have our enemies and they are willing to bring the fight to us….

I can still remember the day that it happened. I was in first period it was a biology class with Mr. Wombacher. We all got into class and our teacher turned on the news and we watched… we watched the planes hit the twin towers in New York, we watched people jumping from the buildings trying to save them selves. We watched as people ran covered in ash. We watched… I remembering my heart aching for all those people and there families knowing what pain there about to go through, the moment of silence and prayer we said for each of those people. Luckily I didn’t know anybody that was killed in the 9/11 attack no any of the fire fighters that risked their lives to go in and save as many people as they could with out thinking of their own. Nor have I lost any friends or family in the war that created after the attack.

But I was still affected, I am a proud American. I love the country in which I live in. I feel even though you may not agree with what we are doing in the Middle East you still need to show respect for the soldiers that are sacrificing them selves to go and fight for your freedom and to keep the fight over there so it doesn’t come to ours again. I believe that you should say the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms. I put up my 4th of July decorations before Memorial Day and don’t take them down till after September 11th. I try not to forget how lucky I am to be living in the Land of the Free.

I still can not believe that it was already been 10 years. I am sure that anyone that was there or witnessed that day will never forget what happened; I hope that they won’t so something like that never happens again.

Since June

2011-09-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I have written, and not a lot has happened since then.

My cruise was amazing. I swear that is the only way to travel they clean up after you, feed you, and even turn down your bed for you. And to top it off they leave a little towel animal each night. I am so glad that I chose that as my vacation!

After my vacation I became poor I wonder why! I didn't do much but for fourth of July I went to Utah to get out of the heat and to see some good friends and family. In Utah this was the 1st year that everyone could shoot aerial fireworks. It was probably the best dang show I have seen in a while. I walked out the front door and there were fire works every where!

But any hoo that's not why I went up I saw one of my best friends. We have been through the good the bad, and I would not trade one day of our friendship. A couple years ago she found the man she was going to spend the rest of her days with and he moved her all the way to Utah. To top it off he got in to a wonderful opportunity for school not just any school a school that has its first semester in Australia. I was super bummed and jealous all at the same time, and they were moving at the beginning of August. So I realized that I took the little space of Arizona and Utah wasn't so bad so I needed to go and see her before she left. It was one good trip we didn't stop moving the entire time. So here is a shout out to this girl all the way out in Australia. She is the hot blond in the middle.

The second part of the wonderful weekend was I got to visit one of my wonderful aunts. They just bought a beautiful house in Clinton, UT. So I thought that I would go help and unpack the big home. I felt bad because I wasn't much help we did what us stokes girls do best. Shop! And not just shop anywhere...ROD WORKS! It truly is the best home store I have been into in a while. But I do love this family so much. Here is a picture to show you this beautiful family to you all.

Since the fourth my life has been slightly boring, I have helped my parents redo there kitchen. I also did my very first quilt! I forgot to take pictures and right now its being quilted so I will have to show you all later! But you will have to be easy on my you will have to remember this is my first quilt it definitely is not perfect! Till next time!

5 Year Trip

2011-06-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

So I have a pretty great work. We have our days every now and again but I always am so thankful that I have a pretty great job and coworkers. On June 5Th I have officially been there for 5 years. I still can not believe it. It seems like yesterday I just started. But I work at Superstition Springs Endodontics. See our beautiful logo here!

But anyways for hitting that 5 year mark our wonderful bosses gave us a trip of our choice up to a certain amount. Well I of course was so excited! So it is becoming that time to go on my trip so I thought I would brag I mean tell you all where I chose to go... I am going to the West Caribbean on a cruise with Carnival. I can not tell you how excited I am to leave tomorrow morning to start my vacation! Here is a little picture to show you all what I will be doing for the next 7 days! That's right I will be sitting my but on a beach and doing nothing. Start getting jealous I will be back to brag oops I mean tell you what I got to do!

The Men In My Life

2011-04-16T16:45:00.001-07:00

So I am going to be 24 in the next month! And everyone is exceptionally great in reminding me that I need to get a MAN in my life! It would make my life a whole lot easier. Let me just tell you I am excited to meet the MAN of my dream who I will get to spend eternity with, I have not had the opportunity yet to meet that MAN but I believe that one day I will. But until I do I would like to tell you about a couple of special MEN in my life. Let me give you a little back story I went up to Cottonwood for general conference weekend. My wonderful father who I love and he is a very special MAN in my life but he did not make my cut for my post today. Sorry dad I love you. But he got my hints of how we never really go out as a family like we used to when I was younger. So he got his Rhino and quad out and we went on a quad ride. We had my 1st special guy come along with us. As I was riding my quad I was thinking I probably don't tell him enough that I love him and how special he was to me.

So with out further a do here is my 1st special MAN in my life... My Grandad ...

There are many reasons why I love this guy and its not just cause he is my Grandad. For example when all the cousins wanted to go on a hike he was the one that would take us to the Indian Ruins. When we all get married he makes us a Hope Chest all by him self. He would do anything I ask. Well at least he makes me think that. I have memories of going to my Grandads house and pick cherries from his Cherri tree. He would never yell unless we played guns and we shot somebody. That was never okay at Grandads house. He is always willing to come help out with my house. If anything is ever broke he is the one to call to fix it. He loves his family and lets them know it. He can quote Cowboy Poetry like it was his first language.T hose are just a few things to show how awesome my Grandad is.

The 2nd special MAN in my life is my Grandpa...

My Grandpa is special to me for many reasons and let me tell you some. My Grandpa is very good with his hands. Just like my Grandad he does a lot with wood he makes shelves, hat racks, any type of thing you want to make with wood he is the one to call. Give him time he can make just about anything. He loves my Grandma very much and lets us all know how much he misses her when she is gone. My Grandpa can name any John Wayne movie, or quote any Louis L'Amour book that you throw his way. The same weekend I was thinking I should dedicate a post to my Grandpa's my Grandpa had a minor stroke. My mother and I arrived at my Grandparents house just as my Grandpa was being loaded into the ambulance. It was a very scary time for my family. He is doing a lot better he just loses the conversation from time to time. I realized how much I would miss my Grandpa if something worse were to happen to him.

So I wanted you all to know about these two great MEN I have in my life and how much they mean to me.

You may only be someone in the world, but to someone else, you may be the world.

-Source Unknown

Things I LOVE

2011-04-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

So a few weeks ago my family came down so I wanted to share with you the things I LOVE! there are just a couple of things...

1st there is the place we went to. If you are ever in the North Valley you NEED to go to Pullanos it has the best Pizza and Wings! So I LOVE this place....

The other thing I LOVE well I guess I can't call them them things. I LOVE my family. They are a great support for me and take great care of me when I need help with my house. So here are a few of them that LOVE me so much...

Here we have some of my family and my cute little nephew. We are missing a few of my family members they weren't able to make this fun trip!!

Pumpkin Carving 2010

2010-10-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

Yes I am 23, yes I call my self an adult, and yes I still carve pumpkins like I am 10!!

We had some family over and we carved like there was no tomorrow. We did it a little early this year but we just couldn't wait. We all just got to dang excited. So here are some pictures to show you how much fun we had.

Everyone hard at work!!

The final project. Don't they all look so pretty!!

Even though they all look so pretty. My pumpkin did not have a happy ending. My pumpkin is the middle one. The face, the happy face, we only got to enjoy my pumpkin for only 5 days and some kids decided that they were going to have some fun and smash it in the road. I am not going to lie I was not a happy camper. But I do remember the fun we had carving our pumpkins this year!

So in 5 days I want to wish you a Happy Halloween!!

Misson Call

2010-10-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

So a few weeks ago my cousin had his Farewell. We went to New Mexico to go see him off. It was a fast 3 day trip but it was well worth it. I am so proud to call him my cousin he is making a big decision in his life that will change it for the better. I thought I needed to get better about documenting it so here are a few pictures!

New Mexico Temple

Everyone that came to see Kyle go through the Temple. (I was taking the picture)

Kyle and I posing for the camera!! Care full ladies he is on his mission come and talk to me in 2 years!!

Everyone enjoying some delicious dinner!!

As you can see that our entire family can fill a room with no problem. I even say that's not our whole family!!

60 years

2010-09-29T10:25:00.000-07:00

When I was home this weekend for my grandparents 60Th anniversary, yes 60 years together! I am so sad because I did not pull out my camera! Can you believe it, not one picture. But you better believe that we had some fun... The boys played some touch football, we all played some water volleyball that led me to get soaked by my lovely brother Robert. I tried retaliating but I was over powered and lost, again no picture but I did not have one dry spot on me! I had such a good time this last weekend hanging out with my family we never had a dull moment.

My mother gave me a wonderful quote. So I thought I just have to share with all of you. So here it is:

"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention elsewhere, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder."

-Unknown Author

I really love this quote because, yes I am very guilty of chasing the butterfly and I need to learn to wait and let it sit on my shoulder. At times I have my fathers Patience which is some to none if you know what I mean. So while this quote is still helping me I hope that you are able to let it help you as well.

Fall

2010-09-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Can I tell you how excited I am for FALL to arrive!! Today is the first day in FALL. Well maybe in other states but in Arizona FALL doesn't come till about October.

Well lets just say I don't wait for FALL to arrive I decorate as early as I can. Which I already have this last weekend.
If you need somewhere to get decorations for fall I have found my new favorite store. It is very hard for me to drop money on clothes for my self. But you can get me in a home decor store and you have to take my credit cards away. Because that's when I can get in TROUBLE! I know its really sad how my mind works.

Any way here is some things I LOVE about FALL...

The leave change color
The cool weather
Thanksgiving
Football
The cool weather

Any way those are just a few things. So I would like to have wish everyone out side of Arizona a very happy FALL. And for you Arizonians get ready cause your FALLS coming.

Quick Update

2010-06-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

So I am still trying to get a hold of this blogging thing. I can never remember to do it!! So here is a little update of what I have been up to since my last post.

I decided since all my friends and family decided to have babies all at the same time that I would make cute baby wipe dispensers to go. Being in Mesa you are finding more and more people are being crafty so I thought I would give it a try. It was actually a lot of fun to make and more fun to give out. I really thought the paisley one would be my favorite however I think my country girl comes out more then I realize. I fell in LOVE with the one that I made for my Nephew Riggin. Can you guess which one??

Then my family and I decided to go to the Gila Valley Temple Open House. It was a small Temple however it was so beautiful inside. So breath taking in many different rooms. I have only been to two open houses this one and the Snow Flake Temple and they were very different. The Gila Valley Temple was able to take you in each room and explain what room is used for what. I loved that having never been through the Temple having the opportunity to see the rooms and the beauty that they hold. If you ever have an opportunity to go to an Open House I would strongly suggest that you go.

We were able to see where President Kimball's Child hood home was.

And I learned that my Grandad, yes my Grandad was ordained an Elder in this house so he could become a branch president in a ward in Thatcher. I was also learned some other things about my grandparents in their young married age that no grand kids should never have to learn about from their Grandad and Nana.

I also had a chance to go camping for Memorial Day with my moms family. This is one of the only photos that I got this weekend. Apparently the rhino rides can wear kids out. Maybe not exciting enough!! I wish I could fall asleep like that.

And last but not least I was able to go see my brother Robert graduate from Fire Academy they made this video to show some of the things that learned. So I thought I would share it with you all!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcxeWVzUVFM

San Diego

2010-04-21T12:47:00.001-07:00

So last week my doctors that I work for gave me the opportunity to go to San Diego with them and a few of my co workers to attend a Endodontic Convention. Here is a little view from my hotel room on the 1st night.

And here is a little picture of the Bay. So needless to say we taken care of very well.

Here are the two guys I owe a HUGE thank you to for letting me come with them. They also surprised us on Thursday morning with a sail boat ride around the bay. I had such a good time I didn't even get sick!!

Here our sail is up and we are ready to ride the water. Our captain of our boat was full of information all about the air craft carriers that were stationed. He new a lot about all the little museums and places that not many people new about. He made the boat ride very interesting!!

On Friday a couple of the girls and I had the opportunity to go to mission beach and play in the Ocean. We had so much fun playing in the sand and the water. Trust me it was all not like this. Our mornings were pretty open however our afternoons were packed with classes. So we made the most of our mornings when we could.

Here is all of us getting ready to go on our boat ride on Thursday morning.

Again I owe a HUGE thank you to my doctors for letting me go and learn at the convention. As well as have some fun in San Diego.

Update

2010-04-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

So I was recently told by my co-worker that I need to update my blog...As you can see I have not done so in quite some time...So here it is.

One of my biggest update of my life is that I bought a house in August last year. I now live in Mesa in a Two bedroom townhouse with my cousin Nicole. I LOVE owning my own house. It is so fun to decorate it the way I would like and not have to worry about my land lord getting mad at me. I am now in the process of doing my back yard! If it were not for my oldest brother Ryan it wouldn't have gotten done...Well it would have, I just would have paid a lot more money. He has saved me so much in the money and he even did all the labor for me as well. I owe him so much and love him dearly. So this is a HUGE thank you to my BIG brother.

Here he is such a handsome devil.

I also owe a HUGE thank you to my parents they came every weekend to dig trenches, lay cement, and lay rock. They came and did all the hard labor along side my brother and I. I also owe a thank you to all my other family members who came and helped me through those fun weekends.

So here are a few pictures of my humble abode.

This was me on the day the I received my keys to my house.

Here are a few before pictures of my back yard, well its more of a space then a yard!!

And here it is after!! I am so happy that it is all done!!

In January my second oldest brother and sister in law gave me a brand new nephew. He is so cute. I love looking at him and squeezing his little legs. With this new addition He makes six nieces and nephews. I love being an aunt, it is so much fun and brings me so much joy in my life. It is also great birth control when I babysit. I learn that I am not ready to go from 0 to 2 or 4 kids in an instant. I love to babysit them all but I would definitely am not as patient as my two wonderful sisters in law.

Here are some pictures of my beautiful family.

Here is Ryan, Jessica, Avery, and Gage.

Here is Robert, Brandee, Eden, Reighns, Rimington, and Riggin.

Last year for my 22 birthday my parents gave me a puppy. Her name is Allie Mae Stokes. She is so much fun to have around. We have our days where she still likes to chew things up just to get attention from me and those days I am not so sure on why I got her. But then when she looks up at me and gets so excited when I come home I could not even imagine giving her up. She is so full of life and never runs out of energy. So here she is when she was a puppy and how she has grown in just a year.

Here is Allie when we got her as a puppy.

Here is Allie and my sisters dog Mari, they are the best of friends and never go anywhere with out each other.

Check it out!!

2009-10-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Here is my new favorite website!! Thanks to my co-worker Megan! Everyone needs to check it out!!

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

You will laugh so hard you will cry!

Athlone's Storm!

2009-07-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

So just a couple of days ago I was on facebook and one of my friends from Ireland Instant messaged me and told me there was a storm in Athlone and wanted to know if I wanted to see some pictures! Of course I told him yes and he sent them to my email! So I thought I would share with all of you!!!

Since I been home from Ireland

2009-07-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

Well since everyone is doing this blogging thing I figure that I should update my blog since I have been home from Ireland. I will try to be better and update it more but we will see how that goes!

Since June of last year we have move from Tempe to Gilbert. We like our new apartment and Ward, however we miss a lot of things back at our old apartment and old ward. We have lived in Gilbert since August and met some new friends.

Lauren Started Cosmetology School and should be out in August but we will see, the date keeps changing cause she can't seem to make it there on time or stay there for the full day. But she is Determined to finish it by the end of August.

In April or March I can't remember some friends from Ireland came to visit. They reminded me of how much I miss that place. I can't wait to go back.

I turned the big 22 this year. I went the Dave and Busters, its like the Peter Piper Pizza for Adults. I had a lot of fun acting like I was 5 yrs old again! We also went to go see Brian Regan, he was so funny. All and all it was a great birthday.

Also for my birthday my parents got me exactly what I wanted for my birthday. A dog! Her name is Allie May Stokes. She is the biggest pain in the but and has ruined more of my cousins shoes then I would like to pay for, but she is such a joy and is so full of love. She has more energy then any of us know what to do with. She is very smart and learned that going potty in the house is a big no no. Yet she will have her moments that she "forgets" the rules. But she is so sweet and not afraid of anything.

I also went camping for Memorial Day, with my family. I almost was stopped going because it rained so much. I went even though it was so muddy. I had so much fun playing with my nieces and nephews. I just have to show my nephew Rimington he went on a ride on the four four with his big sister Eden. Half way through the ride he decided to get off and Eden got stuck in the mud and Rimington decided to keep standing behind the four wheeler and just scream. So i had to get a picture of his face after all of the drama.

I am still working at Superstition Springs Endodontics. In October I moved from an Assistant from the back to the front of the office as a receptionist. I thought it was a good chance at learning more about different things. In March I was able to have the opportunity to learn the billing and collecting side of the business. It has been so much fun and so challenging all at the same time. I am learning something new every day.

I am still happily single and enjoying life everyday. Even though most of my friends are now married I am getting more and more used to being the third wheel. I am having so much fun not having to share my money with any one and having some fun times with friends and family. I know that one day my prince will come but until that day comes I am going to have some fun. I hope that I will be able to return back to Ireland one day. Hopefully soon. Till then I will be saving my money and finding a new and fun adventure!

The Best Parents Ever!!!!

2008-06-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

In Ireland they don't have Macaroni and Cheese Top Ramen. Or Ranch Dressing. So I begged my wonderful parents to send me some mac and cheese and they did! My roommates and I love them so much! We have had some joyous meals with all of them! I just want to shout out to my great parents! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!! LOVE YOU!!!

Charlie Browns

2008-06-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

Here is all the students home! We all live here if we are not in our apartments! They have the best beef burgers and chips. They also have some good home made vegetable soup! We can't decide if they hate us or love us. Because Athlone is a college town and in the summer they don't get the business they do when school is in. But we also eat all there ketchup they always know when we come in because we clean them out of there ketchup! For some reason its not a big thing here!

Storytellig Festival

2008-06-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

My storytelling teacher set up a storytelling festival to go down in the town of Athlone where we are staying. Her and other people from the town got donations and set the whole thing up! This was there first one they had ever done here. It was called the 3 river storytelling festival. The three rivers were The Shanon, The river Suck (that's not how its spelled but its how it is pronounced), and The Salt river from Arizona! We had a story teller come and tell stories and a musician from Athlone who played a flute and a little pipe. Our teacher had three students from our class participate and I was one of them. We all did really well. We had a lot of fun doing it and listening to all the stories. Someone from the paper was there and so hopefully we are in the paper! There is not a picture of me sorry I am not talented enough to tell a story and take a picture of myself at the same time!! Here is our musician he was so nice and did a really nice job! I think that this was my favorite part about the whole night. It was beautiful music!
This is Amber! She did so good! She told us a story about A princess with too much pride.
Here is Jake telling his story about a boy that had no story! He is such a natural at it!
Here is the featured story teller, his name is Jack Lynch. He told us stories that he made up and that were ones that were greatly known. He had us laughing the entire night!

My Apartment (Flat)

2008-06-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the out side of our Flats! There are two levels. I am on the second one.Here is our kitchen it is very tiny they don't believe in a lot of space!
Here is out toilet isn't it pretty!
And our shower! I don't think they know what room is when designing things here! Everything is so cramped!!
Our living room! with our comfortable couches!
My bedroom!

Church in Ireland!!

2008-06-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

While I was in Dublin I was able to go to the Ward there! I went with two other girls that were LDS. We really didn't know where to go all we had was an address, so I asked the cab driver if he knew where it was and he said he thinks he does but if not we can find it. Well we went to the street and we couldn't find it, so the cab driver asked this old man that sold flowers and he told us that there was a chapel just up ahead but he didn't know weather it "was a Mormon or the Jehovah church" and I was thinking well we don't want the Jehovah church so hopefully it wasn't that. But we found it! It was a small ward they only had about 50 people in the Congregation and about half of them were missionaries! There were five different sets of missionaries in the ward! there was an old couple and two older sister missionaries that worked in the office. Then there were three different sets of missionaries to go and teach the gospel. The experience I had there was amazing! Everyone that was there was a convert and it was wonderful to hear all there conversion stories and all that they go through to live the gospel each day! They were so nice, and welcomed us with open arms and wanting us to come back the next weekend! There was a girl there from Tempe she was there doing a internship for school! So I talked with her and we found out that we have mutual friends so that was fun to talk to her! I loved being at church because it felt like home! I know I can go anywhere in the world and I can go somewhere and feel like I am home! Which I am very grateful for!!

Here is there sign that is in Gaelick (sorry I am not sure if that is the right spelling!)

Bloomsday and the Mural

2008-06-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I also went to the bloomsday festival where they read excerpts from the story Ulyssis by James Joyce. They have many different people come to read and they dress up it was quite different!I also went to this mural it is the story of Cuchulan, its of how he got his name till he died. Its quite amazing because this artist did it all out tile! Here is Cuchulan fighting a lion, this is how he got his name!
I thought this was hilarious!!
The Mural
This is when he died the woman on the horse was Mav and Cuchulan tied himself to a tree because he was a great soldier and all soldiers were to die sitting up!
This is at the Bloomsday festival. This is a famous actor that plays in a lot of plays over here. Like I said above they had many different people come to read. They even had the representative of China there to read!

Monday Outing!

2008-06-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

Om Monday I went to many different sites! It was a lot of walking! But each one was very beautiful! This is the church that is connected to Dublin Castle.
Here is par of Dublin Castle!
Here is the Bell Tower for the Castle and the church!
Here is the out side of Christ Church Cathedral.
This is there main hall where they hold the main service!
This I can't remember what this is but I just love all the detail!
And the stained glass windows!
Here is St. Patrick's Cathedral! You can't go to Dublin and not see it!
And more beautiful stained windows
And the floors! It was amazing to me about these cathedrals they were full of so much detail and they had so many beautiful things about them! I just couldn't believe them!

The Dublin Gost Bus Tour

2008-06-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

So one night that I was in Dublin we got a group together and we went on a ghost tour of Dublin and we got a quick lesson of body snatching!! I thought it was okay but it wasn't 25 euro okay but hey you live and you learn! Here is a gated door going into the church they called it the leper door because this is where they would come to receive like a sacrament from the preacher and so they would stand at the door and they would hand it trough a tube that went through the door.
This is supposedly the scariest place in Dublin its called the 40 Steps and it was told that a woman was hung for murdering her child that was also the sheriffs child. And every now and then she comes to these steps and brings some friends with her to join.
This is the body that we snatched! do you think we will get a lot of money for it!?
Here is the grave that we are about to snatch the body from!!
Here is everyone that went on the ghost tour! The woman in the green jacket is Liz Weir she is my story telling teacher!

Dublin!!!

2008-06-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend we all went to Dublin. It is the largest city in Ireland. It has about one million people in the city and only 1 out of 6 people are Irish! It is so crazy. The buildings are on top of each other! But yet it is still so beautiful! The buildings are amazing! They definitely hold there own there if you don't you get ran over. They also have the most interesting people there! I have never seen more drunk homeless people! This is O'Connell Statue! This guy is very famous here! He is considered to be just like Martin Luther King! Very respected here!
This is in Trinity College! This is one of the oldest buildings they have! How would you like to live or go to class in that building!
This is Trinity College bell tower.

This is a church that is connected to Dublin Castle!
I am sticking my finger in a bullet hole that was part of the uprising between Ireland and Britain. This was at the last stand which was at the General Post Office!
These are famous statues of the Blog people they are the people of the great famine in the 18Th century. Its amazing the faces they put on each of the statues they look so real!
This is just a random sign they had in the middle of the street! I guess the people in Dublin have to be told how to walk properly!
This is a sphere in the middle of O'Connell Street. I am not sure of the significance but it is very tall!!
Bell tower of Trinity College again!

Bullet holes in the GPO again!
Okay here is the story behind James Connolly. He was one of the men that started the IRA and rebelled against Britain. He was in the last stand at the GPO He was one of the first rebels and was respected very much. When they lost the last stand they put James in an ambulance and rushed him to the Jail and at the jail they sat him up in a chair and then killed him! I guess that was the civil way to do it! I am not sure if I am related to him or not but when ever I mention the name Connolly people go crazy and let me know who this guy was.
This is describing him and his statue. If you double click on the photo and enlarge it you can maybe read it!
Here is a sign at the GPO telling the last stand! With James Connolly as one on of the last people of the last stand! Again you may be able to read it if you double click it and enlarge it!

Her are just some of the group crossing the busy cross walk!
Night life! what did I say about the weird people! lots of men in dresses! For stag parties! Men are very secure about there man hood here!
One of the pubs that we went to in temple bar!
Of course we had to go in! but we didn't eat it was so expensive!!
This is the national bank of Ireland. They used to hold Parliament here! now it is just a bank!

Toga Party in Ireland

2008-06-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

So every Thursday night we have started a tradition of having a little get together of everyone that is in the program! And we theme them! The first was BBQ and this one is Toga! It was hilarious. We had themed it Toga, pinata, potluck, dance, and karaoke. We had so much fun. Here is Jen she was the only one that got to do the pinata because it went down after 2 strikes!
Here is all the people that first started out the night in togas. As the night went on more people came in togas it was quite interesting to see how many people were brave enough to tear there sheets and to go with out sheets for the rest of the trip!!
Here are Courtney and I! We were bums and didn't dress up but we still had tons of fun dancing and with karaoke!
Here is Jerad that tree was his all night long! We found it in one of the apartments and just decorated the flat!
Everyone that dresses up!!!

Me and Jennifer she is so fun! I love this girl!

Friday the 13th was Clonmacnoise

2008-06-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

So this last Friday we went to a place called Clonmacnoise it was a Abby that is now in ruins and is a cemetery. This Abby and chapel was rebuilt many times. It is right on the river Shannon and in the middle of Ireland. They said that the location is why they built here. Because they would have many travelers come through so they would be able to spread the Gospel. Here is Megan, Arlyn, me Jen, Amber and Ed in a church window!
Jen and I touching the top of the tower!

This is the confession door. When the people were sick or needed to confess a sin they were not able to go into the church so they would have to stay at the door. Now if you stand in one corner in a small part of the arch(like the left side) then had a person like a priest on the other side of the door (like the right side) you could wisper your sins and they could talk to you about it with out any one else hearing!! It was so cool we did it! It really worked!

Here is a headstone that I thought was interesting because it had the whole families story on it. Like children and everything. Then I noticed that all of them are like this!

Some of the graves!

Irish Music

2008-06-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

So here is a video of traditional Irish music! sorry the picture is not so good! but you can hear the music! Hope you guys enjoy it!

Galway

2008-06-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

The claddagh ring! These originated in Galway and they had about a hundred stores. Ando of course I got one! but where i got one was in this shop! The woman was so nice and told me all types of stories about Galway!

Okay so sorry about the pictures! Like I said this past weekend I went to Galway and had a blast we were supposed to go to inish Moher but our boat wouldn't make it back in time so on Sunday we just hung around and we found this statue. This man was great and was a founder of something but I can't remember! Me and Katie with our men!
This man walked around all of Galway like this, we guessed he was having a stag party! Which it was like a bachelor party. They had lots of hen and stag party's in Galway.

Cliffs of Moher & Burren Cave

2008-06-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

Okay sorry these pictures are a little mixed up I am still not quiet sure how to work this. But this last weekend I was able to go to Galway which is on the west cost of Ireland and on sat we were able to take a tour to the Cliffs of Moher and the Barren Cave. It was so beautiful I could not get over how breath taking it was! I could have stayed there all day! Well this pic is of me and just sitting on the edge of the cliff! This is in the cave these are bones that are over 800 yrs old. They are of a Brown European Bear!
This is a stalagmight
A beautiful waterfall in the cave!

A funny sign at the cliffs!
My friend mike imitating the sign!
Another funny sign cause no one paid any attention to it!

Me laying against the wind on the cliffs!

On the tour the Atlantic Ocean

Stoping to eat lunch!

Loughcrew

2008-06-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

So here we are at the Loughcrew it is where there are three hill with a mound of rocks on each hiil. They believed the rocks got on the hill by the Goddess Mov. There are tombs made by the people long ago for the gods. There are no bodys in there. They are just memorial tomb. We went to the middle hill and got to see the tomb and all the writing on the walls. There are alot of landscape pictures because I am in a photography class! So you guys can tell me how good I am doing! Going up the hil with all the land behind me!

The writing on the walls in the tombs!
These are my roomates. Next to me is Liz, Kody, and Courtney!
The hill of rocks!
Love it here! Love the green!

Sitting in the middle of a field of flowers! Now just waiting for my night in shining armor!

All the girls in the field of flowers!
Me and the girls goofing around doing cartwheels down the hill!
Me being a dork jumping off the mountians!
I am on top of the world!

Okay so the story behind this picture is this is the mermaid rock (well we called it that) and I just had to do the pose! All I was missing was the ocean, a tail, and a cocomut bra!!:)

Help me! sorry I just had too!

Good Times

2008-06-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of a couple nights that our group had alot of fun at! Most of the people on are group are younger then 21! So lets just say they are loving the pub life! I will have to put up pictures of the pub that we go to!They have the best food there! And when I say that we all had fun don't worry I was the DF(Designated Friend) since we can't drive!

Here are some of the girls that are on the trip I love them all! From left to right we have Michelle, Megan, Arleen, Arlynn, Kody, Courtney, Liz, and Michelle. Here is me and megan starting out the night!
The group starting a round of Kings Cup!
All of us who were there that night!
Us going over to Charlies which is the pub that we all go too! They were all a little gone!
This night was funny we were getting ready to go out and guess who knocks on our door, four french guys! They were staying at our complex and they couldn't find out landlord! So they came and hung out in the pub with us! that was fun! I know we found french guys in Ireland! Who does that!
Alex, Mike, me, Kody
The french boys!

Bog Oak Chair

2008-06-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

So here is this chair made out of Bog oak. Its black it was so cool! when you

sit in it I feel like a queen!

Boyle Abby

2008-06-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

when the soldiers had it they did there kinda marking on the stone to make there mark with there name and the date!

So here we are at the Boyle abby it is where monks used to pray and do there biddings for the county they were over. It was taken over by english soldiers during the great war. They are now trying to restore it back to the way it was when it wa an Abby!

Here is a decorative art of Daniel and the Lions Den
This is a pornografic image of a woman they were not sure why it was put into the Abby because they couldn't even think about that stuff!

Tour of Athlone

2008-06-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

The roof of the house

Our friend! We call him steve!
I loved this little house you see these types of houses all over with tree and flowers growing inside of them!

Just thought it was pretty!
There pretty church
Athlone Castle!

Here is the train rail going through Athlone! It is in the center of Ireland!

The gas prices here! I was thinking holy cow thats there prices man I thought we had it bad! but then I figured out that its only $1.29 Here are all of my people getting the tour!!

So we went on this tour of Athlone here are of a few pics of the town that we are staying at!

Veiw Outside my room!

2008-06-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

So i have an up stairs apartment and my room is also up stairs! So need less to say I really am not liking stairs any more but I guess I am getting a workout!!!:) But the bright side to that is I have a beautiful view out side my apt! We have a horse farm out side our place it is great!! Sorry I don't have pics of my apartment yet but I will have to get those up!

Airport

2008-06-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

Here is the Dublin airport! We arrived at 10am in Ireland but it was really like 2am az time we were all a pretty livley group let me tell you! It took a couple days to get used to it and get out of jet lag! but We are all pretty goog now!!