Capitol Reef

So, I've been wanting to hike for a long time, but with all the snow in our mountains it is impossible around here. Rafa and I decided to take a three day weekend at Capitol Reef for a nice break. We stayed in a little town called Torrey, Utah in a cute bed and breakfast. I loved all of the awesome rock formations, sunshine, and bright blue skies.


This was the first hike we did at Capitol Reef, called the Hickman Bridge.

This was our favorite hike. We started at the bottom of the cliffs and hiked up more than 1,000 feet to the top, and were rewarded with an amazing view of the rock formations.

This was the beginning of the trail, when it was easy.

The hike was well worth it! This picture shows my favorite rock formations. I wish you could see all the way down to the bottom.

Here is another picture of those same rocks.

We took a beautiful drive on a scenic byway called highway 12. There was still an abundance of snow at the top of the mountains.

Here is Rafa on our Chimney Rock hike trying to scare me by standing next to the cliff.

We loved our trip and will bring our son back here in the future.

Ultrasound pictures at 20 weeks

We can't wait to meet our little boy!

Here is a close up of his face. I love his little nose and lips.

Here is our son in a profile shot. I love seeing his face and tummy.

We are having a BOY!!!!

So today was the big day! This afternoon we finally found out that our little one is a boy. We could not be more excited and happy. I feel like now I can start to get everything ready. He will have a little boy cousin to grow up with and play with because my sister is also having a boy about 5 weeks before me. I know the poll on my blog said I was going to be having a girl, but actually I had students coming up to me saying they had dreams that I was going to have a boy. So funny! Thanks everyone for your kind words and excitement when you found out.

2009 Accent on Excellence Award

I am in shock still! I was at teacher meetings today when we were interrupted by the Superintendent of the School District, some other people from the district, and someone with a video camera. They asked for me and presented me with the 2009 Accent on Excellence teaching award. Yes, all of this was happening while I was being video-taped. This means that my school will be awarded with $500 as will I (which they told me I cannot use on teaching stuff, I have to use on myself). Also, I get to go to a banquet in May with the other teachers that received the award. This all came about because my Principal nominated me earlier this year for the Spirit of Alpine Award. Then I had to fill out a few pages about my teaching career, and from that the district picked the final 5 or 8 (I think?) teachers.

I am just so grateful that my Principal and the others thought the time and effort I put into my job everyday was worth highlighting. The last 2 years I worked the hardest I had ever worked in my life trying to juggle teaching, writing a thesis for my Masters, and completing a math endorsement. Not to mention, still be a wife for Rafa. I absolutely love my job and the joy I get from teaching 6th grade children. Wow! I don't know what else to say. What a surprise!

Second Trimester Here I Come!

I am so excited to be 14 weeks along and progressing with my pregnancy. But with this being my first I still do not feel like it is real. I am not really showing yet, so no one can tell, and that is really hard. I think it will feel more real when I actually have a belly.
So, the news is out at work. I was going to wait until Monday but it did not work out that way. I just kept messing up when I was teaching. I would spell and write things wrong on the board, or say one thing and mean another. Finally, I told the kids on Thursday and they were so excited. And kids say the funniest things. One girl said, "Oh, I was wondering why you looked like you gained some weight!?" And another girl got so excited that she is going to make a box that will be half blue and half pink so that people can vote if it will be a boy or girl. At least I can say my job is never boring.
I promise I will download some pictures soon, but I am still getting used to this whole blog thing. I wish I had a scanner so I could scan in my ultrasound pictures from 12 weeks so everyone could see. I will be finding out the gender at my 20 week appointment on March 3rd.

Christmas Day, Let it SNOW!!!

This is our first post for our new blog. Due to the crazy snow Utah has been having, we were unable to go to Mike and Caroline's house for Christmas to open presents. Mike sent us a news story about how they closed 7800 South by his house because of all the cars that had slid off the road. They had blowing snow and snow drifts really high right in front of his house. It has stopped for now, but a worse storm is supposed to start this afternoon. Let it snow!