Graduation!

Many people have been asking about my graduation information so that they can come. For anyone who is interested I have finally gotten the info:

Who: Me, the graduate

When: Sunday, May 18, 2008

Where: California State University, Fullerton

Time: 8:00 a.m.

Expect there to be a HUGE party to follow (just kidding...well...maybe not :))

FYI. I have heard that I am only getting a few tickets to start out with, but there are not tickets required for the main ceremony (so don't worry). Apparently there is only a ticket requirement for the second part or something like that. I am kinda confused honestly. I hear they aren't too hard to get if I need extra ones, just let me know if you want to come so I can get extra. :)

An Unexpected visitor. Is there a baby on the way?

So, I was at my mom and dad's house today and my mom and I saw a stork (or a bird that looked VERY similar to one) in the front yard. It was pretty awesome. My mom and I were joking around and it made us wonder if this is a sign. I wonder if there is someone in the family who is pregnant??? (Besides the ones we already know about) Haha!
I got a few really great pictures of it in the front yard. Hope you like them.

Bodak...(Spinach and Feta Pockets)

I wanted to post this recipe. My mother-in-law has been asking for it for a VERY long time, and I have been lazy and haven't taken the time to write it down (as I do it by memory). Then, the other day my friend Roxi asked me for it after she tasted it. So, here you guys go, sorry it took FOREVER!

Okay, this is a dish that I learned from a friend. She is Lebanese, and I LOVED it. They (Lebanese) call it bodak (bo-dak) but I have heard that it is a Greek dish, and they just call it Spinach Feta pockets. Whatever it is, it sure is tastey (this coming from someone who could easily live without vegtables). So try it...IT'S MY FAVORITE FOOD!!!

Spinach and Feta Pockets (Bodak)

1/2 onion, chopped
1 package frozen chopped (chopped is optional) spinach, drained and squeezed dry (I get the 3lb bad from Costco, its $3 and makes about 20 pockets)
about 1-2 cups of crumbled feta cheese (Dave prefers more, I prefer less)
Olive Oil
Oregano (as much as you prefer)
1 tbl spoon black pepper
pinch of salt
20 sheets store-bought filo dough (found in the frozen section)



1. In a small skillet, saute onion over medium heat.

2. After onion is brown add spinach slowly (as spinach shrinks add more and more, until it is all in the pan) While cooking spinach add olive oil, pepper and oregano. (I use a lot of oregano, it really brings out the taste, so I would suggest using 1/4 of a bottle.)

3. Next drain the spinach in a strainer (leave it in the strainer for awhile to get rid of all of the water, I usually squeeze as much out with the spatula as I can)

4. In a medium bowl, combine spinach, feta, more pepper, oregano and a dash salt. Stir until well combined. Set aside.

5. Remove one sheet of phyla from stack (cover the remaining sheets with a damp cloth to keep from drying out) and lay it on a work surface. Brush entire sheet with a thin layer of olive oil.

6. Fold filo sheet in half (hamburger style)

7. Fold again the same way. (making a long rectangle shape, see picture)

8. You now have a long rectangle of filo in front of you. Place about 2 Tablespoonfuls of filling on the bottom right side of one of the rectangles.

9. Fold the bottom left corner up and over the filling so that the bottom edge is now even with the right side. Continue folding up and over until you end up with a triangle.



10. Brush top of triangle with olive oil and place on a baking sheet.

11. Repeat steps 5-10 until you have as many triangles on your baking sheet as desired.

12. Place baking sheet in preheated 375 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool on wire rack and eat either warm or at room temperature.
Enjoy!

Poor Mott's...

Today Motley was neutered. As many of you know, Maddie was spayed about a month ago, so I kind of knew what to expect (or so I thought). Maddie had no problems, she was just a little bit drowsy when she got home.

When I got Motley today he seemed alert (a lot more so than Maddie did). He has been crying even since I picked him up and he looks like he is in pain. I feel so bad for the little guy. He finally fell asleep, but it took him forever because he was very uncomfortable and couldn't find a position that wouldn't hurt him...





Poor little guy...At least he looks comfortable!

Badonkadonk... Fat or BIG boned???

Motley has a big appetite, that's for sure! It seems like whenever I turn around he is eating. I just figured that since he is a puppy, it is normal for him to eat a lot (because he is growing...right)?

Lately, I have been wondering if he is getting fat. When we went to the vet a few weeks ago, she said he looked fat, but Dave and I just think he is big boned (everyone thinks this is funny, but he is seriously just broad and bulky... lets just face it, he is a stud).

So when my aunt came down about a week ago, we took Motley over to my parents, and she and my mom both thought he looked a bit chunky. So, then I started thinking that perhaps he was getting fat, and maybe I just didn't want to face it. Feeling bad, and like I was enabling his overeating, I took him to the vet (a different one this time). She said that he was 7lbs, and that she thought he looked just fine for his age, but not to allow him to gain anymore weight.

I feel much better now... :)

I'm not fat...I'm well taken care of...

All Caught up!

OKAY... I just sat here and wrote blogs for about 2 hours. I have been slacking with my blogs lately because I have been busy with school. So, below you will find what we have been doing for the past week or so. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. Please vote on my poll, located on the right side of this page. I want opinions. Be honest, I won't know who votes for what, its anonymous.

Peace, love, and chocolate.

Silly Valentine

As many of you know Valentine's Day is the day of LOVE. I disagree however, I think it is a day for sappy people to spend money on junk and make places like Hallmark rich.

While I believe that entirely, I DO play into the whole thing (call me sappy). This year I wanted to do something nice for David, because he is always doing nice things for me. So, I decided that I would stay up late and decorate our dining room and dining room table so that when he woke up he would be surprised.

When I woke up my decorations were gone... Apparently, David had the same idea for me, so when he woke up this morning he cleared it off and decorated it for me. I guess it would have worked out better if we had two tables (one each). Haha!

This is the awesome scrapbook tote that he got me to keep all of my scrapbook stuff in. I LOVE it! Isn't it SUPER cute?

I am so blessed to have such an awesome husband...

Never thought I would do it...

...I BOUGHT A ROLLY BACKPACK. I have always been against them because I think that they look nerdy. Since I have started the credential program I have had to carry multiple textbooks, folders, teacher manuals, etc. I decided I would save my back and take the NERDY plunge. A few other girls in my block have them too, so I don't feel too retarded.

The other day I was walking through the library and my friend, who also has a rolly backpack, fell on top of my "rolly" when I had to make a sudden stop. It was pretty hilarious... So I probably look really funny with it because I have a hard time steering it sometimes and find myself rolling over other peoples toes and getting caught in doorways, but that's okay...

I was joking around with the other girls in my block and I told them I was going to "Bedazzle" it to give it "bling" appeal, and make it look more girly...haha (j.k)

Time for a Change...

...so, I felt like it was a time for change. I have had my hair blond for a long time, and I was getting sick of it. I decided to do something different. On Monday, I went to the Hair Salon and came home with brown hair (with a little blond in it). It has taken me a few days to get used to it, but I think it is growing on me... (and, yes, I am aware they are fake smiles)

Before

...and After

Wicked.

As I posted on a previous blog, David got me tickets to see Wicked for Christmas. We went last Saturday and loved it. It is a performance that I would highly recommend. In fact, I told David that if it wasn't so expensive I would see it again.

Here is a picture of us. Since there is only the two of us, we usually take a lot of the "hold the camera in the air" shots... :)

A day at the PARK

...okay, so actually it was 2 days at the park. Last Friday my mom and I took our dogs to the park. I always like to take the puppies out a lot on the weekends to get their energy out. I feel really bad that sometimes I have to leave them here when I am at school (fortunately I have a wonderful mother-in-law whom always comes over and plays with them while I am at school).

anywho, so we took them to the park and they played, and played while we watched them run around. All of the sudden I saw Maddie in the distance and she looked kinda funny. When she got closer I realized what was different about her... (see below)

Then she realized how much she liked the mud, and so her and Mama's rolled around in it...

Then, on Sunday we went again, but this time Dave and his parents came with me and my mom. We thought she looked bad on Friday, but this is what happened Sunday...

Needless to say, it was a very dirty weekend, and we learned that Maddie likes mud. Here are some more pix of our time at the park...

ViSiToRs

On Saturday, my Aunt and Uncle came down from Logan, UT to go on a cruise. They stayed with my parents one night, so we got to spend all day Saturday with them. We all went out to lunch and drove around Fullerton looking at the house they grew up in, and the store my Grandma managed. We also went and saw all of their friends houses and their old schools. After that, we went to get ice cream. I wasn't very good at taking pictures, but here are the ones I did get...

The gang, in the car on our trip down memory lane. (Dad, mom, Uncle Jim and David)

Aunt Terri and I in the WAY backseat. We let Uncle Jim and David sit in the middle because of their LONG legs.

Mom the co-pilot.

The Bucket List

David and I saw "The Bucket List" this weekend. I really thought it was a cute movie. I would recommend it. It is sad, but happy too... If you are looking for something to see, see this!

La Brea Tar Pits

On Friday I went with my friend Roxann to the La Brea Tar Pits. She had to go there for the credential program to look at the different options they have for a school field trip. I told her before we went that it wasn't anything special. It is literally a bunch of little holes in the ground full of mostly water with a bit of tar. After we left she said she would NEVER take her class there unless she wanted to punish them because it is extremely boring.

Here are a few pix... WARNING: it looks more exciting than it actually is.

Me and Roxi pretending to have a good time.

This thing moves. It is kind of freaky!

This is one of the Paleontologists cleaning some Dire Wolves bones.

Apparently, this is how I would measure up to a bear.

This is a picture of Roxi in front of the current excavation site. They are still in the process of digging up different things. (That was a little bit cool, I guess)

Happy Birthday Skyler!

So, today my little brother turned 20. It is so insane to me. I know we are not very far apart in age, but 20 sounds so much older than 19. I was joking around with my parents today about how both of their children are in their 20's. Crazy!

Me and Sky-guy on Halloween many years ago.

Getting ready for my wedding.

Have we changed much???

Another Victim...

So... tonight we got home from dinner and I noticed that there was a small black thing on the floor. When I picked it up I realized that it was a piece of my cell phone charger. Maddie had gotten a hold of it and chewed the piece that you plug into your cell phone off. The scary part is that she chewed it off while it was plugged in!!! She could have been electrocuted!


Her and Motley have also managed to chew up part of our carpet. I am still trying to think of a creative way of fixing that before we move out! I will post those pictures later...

Prado View Elementary

I got my placement! I found out yesterday that I will be doing my student teaching at Prado View Elementary school in Corona. I am super excited! I haven't found out yet what grade I will be teaching, but I talked to my supervisor and she told me that she will be contacting me soon to set up a meeting where she will give me details about who my master teacher is and what grade I will be teaching.

Here is a picture of the school...

Google Tag!

I got this from Danika's blog and it looked fun. You are suppose to answer the questions by googling the words you pick! Here goes nothing...

Favorite animal: All dogs

Favorite holiday: Christmas

Where I live: Southern Cali

Favorite food: Does this count? If not, it should...

College major: Teacher...or Child and Adolescent Studies

Favorite place: ...I LOVE HOME...I guess I am a bit of a homebody.

Old Pet: ...her name was Gadget if you couldn't guess.

Bad habit: ...I drink a LOT of soda...

Age at next birthday: ...haha

Favorite place to visit: ...not the temple, but the city (Logan)...haha

Middle name: ...this is not Mary Kate, it's Ashley.