Erin Fell that Lil’ Champ Might Drive

slightly sacrilegious blog title? perhaps … but it just fits so well.

The rumors are true.  Mitchell and I are no longer Ogden-ites.  We have been cleaning like crazy and taking down van loads to our new location in South Salt Lake all week.  Today was our last Sunday in Ogden and I thought that it might be fun to go around and take some pictures of things we will miss about Ogden before we hit up our Sunday meetings.   Our first stop was the Welcome to Ogden sign. 

 

After our first picture we hopped in the car, turned the ignition …. silence.   Our dear little 1989 Nissan Sentra has been so incredibly good to us.  We have had him (we refer to him as Lil’ Champ) for almost an entire year and he has never back talked to us or given us any lip.  He has been an excellent addition to the family …. up until today.  His starter had just had enough and he decided to rebel.    We only had one option … find a hill … roll Lil’ Champ down .. and pop the ole’ clutch.  We had a sliiiiiiight problem.  We were hill-less.   We were in dyer need of some speed.  So Mitchell and I rolled up our sleeves and began a pushin’.  Mitchell was pushing along the driver’s side and I took to the back (in our Sunday clothes mind you).  So we got some speed, Mitchell hopped in, popped the clutch and boom-ba-da-bing … Lil’ Champ was resuscitated.  Now, the smart Erin would have realized that when the clutch was released the car would lurch forward a bit … unfortunately the smart Erin was not behind the car pushing today.   The car lurched forward with me still pushing with all my might, mind and strength ….. and BAM.  I face planted it on the asphalt … in a skirt … with a few bystanders watching.  And when I say face plant … I mean FACE PLANT.  Prostrate on the ground with a broken jaw.   I picked up the shattered pieces of my ego and chin, hopped in the car and we were off.  We couldn’t risk parking anywhere but a hill so we just headed over to our old apartment (which is on a hill) to recuperate (since we still had the keys to the old apartment).   Mitchell thought that he had left a bag or two of frozen veggies in the freezer that would work as an ice pack …. all we found was a frozen bottle of jam that we had neglected to pack … frozen jam ice pack it was.

Mitchell is convinced that my last and final push was what put the life back into Champ.  I like to think my chin didn’t die in vain.   Thanks mom and dad for adopting Lil’ Champ for the week and letting us use the Silver Steed (15 yr old grey mini-van)

Battle wound.  Purple heart award here I come.

The Answer is E

The dam has become a river.

About 6 months ago I graduated from Weber State University.  I had no idea how hard it was going to be to find a job. I just assumed a bachelor’s degree automatically gave me a job.  I applied to countless jobs, had numerous interviews, had several call back interviews … but nothing ever seemed to happen.  I would get so close … and then everything would fall apart.  I began thinking something was wrong with me …. bad breath? B.O.? horrible personality? Do I need to start wearing shorter skirts? …. then I snapped out of it and realized the Lord knew exactly what he was doing … he always does.  So, I stopped worrying.

During those 6 months I had the opportunity to serve in the Young Women’s presidency in our ward  …. which I loved.  After so many job interviews … I felt that the Lord wanted me here in Ogden …. in this ward …. with these young women.  So I stopped looking at jobs that would take me away from Ogden. 

About a week before girl’s camp, I felt that I should just take a look at the “wanted ads” for Salt Lake …. and lo and behold …. there was a job available at a Health and Weight Loss Clinic.  I got a little excited, but tried not to get too excited because by this point disappointment and I had become very familiar friends.  I applied, got called in for an interview and received a call back that evening receiving a job offer.  That call was incredibly bittersweet.  Hallelujah! Finally a job! …. But that call also meant that I would be leaving my current job, leaving my awesome young women that I had come to love so much, leaving our very first apartment, leaving the ward, leaving beautiful and familiar Ogden.  I admit, that I cried for about 1 minute and 25 seconds.

I begin June 28th.  We will be living in Salt Lake City.

Erin is

A. grateful

B. nervous

C. relieved

D. terrified

E. all of the above.

the answer is E.

Anniversary Picky-Nic

I love love love photos.  My dream would be to have a yearly family photo shoot around each wedding anniversary Mitchell and I celebrate.   So far, so good.   Year one photo shoot accomplished.   I thought it might be fun to kind of reenact our very first date.  In August of 2008, Mitchell planned a very cute picnic in the park in order for us to get to know each other better.  I knew he was a keeper immediately after our first date.   I latched on to him and refused to let go … and boy am I glad I did.

 

Don’t worry Mom, we didn’t do any of this on our first date …….

   

Left…Right….Left, Right, Left.

Mitchell and I went to boot camp this week …. boot camp young women’s style that is … and we both survived to tell the tale.  Mitchell really does deserve a huge trophy with “Best Husband of the Century” engraved upon it.  He agreed to come and hang out with a bunch of girls for 3 days.  What a husband.

The YW 2010 girl’s camp theme for 2010 was ….. drum roll ……………….

We didn’t have any injuries …. no drama ….no wild animal attacks and everyone left smiling and still liking each other …. I think we were victorious.

Ole’ Glory 

craftin it up

rolling 5 billion magazine beads makes people happy

  

skit-a-rama

 

the weather wasn’t our friend

scummy scum scum

 

The girls decided to braid Mitchell’s hair.

hardcore biker gang

 

let the boooooooooot camp begin

 

  

Super Trooper Extraordinaire

Girl’s camp is just around the corner …. which means, I have been spending an unusual amount of time at craft stores buying supplies.  Mitchell is such a super trooper and is willing to go with me on these little “craft excursions.”  At times we get separated in the various craft/teacher supply stores ……

and this is where I find him.  Love it.

Facial Contorting

Memorial Day o’ Memorial Day oh how we love your National Holidayness, the numerous BBQs, the cemeteries that turn into awesome flower gardens, perfect weather and time with faaaaaamily. 

attempting to get a nice Fillmore family portrait

 

so elegantly patriotic its comical.

 

waaaay too serious game of bocce ball (just a side note … my mom’s right elbow is broken in this picture … unbeknownst to her … what a woman)

 

I love face contorting contests. Some find them to be silly or immature.  I find them highly entertaining.

oh craig.

 

“mad eye moody mom” award

 

try compacting all of your facial fat … I dare you … you may want to attempt this when you are alone …..

 first thing I thought: wow, he looks a lot like that pig man thing on Star Wars that wears hairy underwear  

Mitchell wins the award for most hideous face without the assistance of his hands.

 

Dad wins the “I’m too cool to make a sweet face” award.   whatever.