CaTs!

Marcel's 3 younger siblings were all in their schools production of the musical "CATS"! We were able to go to their 2nd performance (11/4/10). They are all so VERY talented! The story was a bit hard to follow but we loved watching them perform!

There was a spot where Manuel got to dance with his cute little girlfriend and we loved watching it because you could see how smitten he is with her even from where we were sitting! So cute!

Also Dani had a solo in the 2nd half and she did fantastic! She is such an amazing dancer! She mesmerizes you with the way she moves and does such a great job at making you know the character! Like I said, AMAZING!

Gaby was so cute! We had a hard time finding her at first because she was in a dance group that was wearing masks but once we did we couldn't take our eyes off her! She is very talented too!

All in all it was a great performance and I wouldn't mind seeing it again! Everyone's costumes and makeup was awesome!

They had some interesting facts about the production on the back of the program:
~Over 100 students tried out to be the Lead Roles (34) in CATS.

~With all groups participating there were 158 youth in the production (10% student body).

~Number of collective hours spent in rehearsal since Sept. 14 for CATS=2941 (*this # doesn't include the many hours spent in preparation by the directors since April).

~Participating: 18 Seniors, 18 Juniors, 21 Sophomores, 23 Freshman, 10 8th graders, 21 7th graders, 19 6th graders, 15 5th graders, 13 4th graders, and 1 parent.

I thought that was pretty interesting!

Also on a side note, when we were all filing out of the auditorium it was extremely loud with flashing cameras everywhere and this kid was managing to sleep through it all! What a goof!

I've been to performances of theirs in the past and I have never been disappointed. They go to a great school (ALA) and I would love for our kids to go there as well someday! We'll see I guess!

Miss Teen Utah USA

My gorgeous sister-in-law Dani had the opportunity to be in the Miss Teen Utah USA pageant this year!

The MAP gala

Interview
Being awarded!

Unfortunately Marcel and I were not able to go and the link to watch it live online wasn't working so we didn't see it :( . But Uli kept us posted and she did GREAT! She won most photogenic,

had the funniest interview answer, and won 2nd Attendant (out of 30 contestants)! We are so proud of her and all of her accomplishments! She said that she had a great time and Uli said it was phenomenal being there. They might be getting a DVD of it so hopefully we will get to see it after all! We love you TONS Dani! You go girl!

Official!

Dani made it in a magazine!! Not just in it, but on the cover! Woot go Dani you B-E-A-Utiful girl you! :)
Make-up: Mindy Hay
Photographer: Matt Spencer
Wardrobe Designer: Sophie St. Claire
Model: Dani Braun

Self Challenge

This comic is so true to life! I laughed so hard when I saw it and had to send it to Marcel who also cracked up at it! It's like they drew this after us! I am always complaining about my weight and the way I look (even if it's in my head) so I'm deciding that instead of just complaining about it without any change, I'm going to do something about it.

A while ago Marcel and I bought this...

We'd watched the infomercials (okay I did) and I talked (begged) Marcel into letting us get it to try. It sells online for like $80-$100 but we found it brand new and unopened on KSL for $50! I started at it and I enjoy the workouts because they kick your butt and Tony (the main man) is hilarious! He also has an awesome saying to really stick by when working out which is "Do your best and forget the rest." I have just become lazy and I can definitely tell the difference. Physically I've just never been in a happy place so I'm going to try....no, I AM going to change that. I'm posting this publicly in a further attempt to hold myself accountable for this goal.
I CAN do this. I don't have an unrealistic goal. I just want to be tight and fit in order to be healthier and feel better about myself. I am tired of feeling limited to activities because of my body. Boating is my most favorite summer activity yet I dread it every year because of my self conciousness. Well no more. It's time to stop talking about it and start doing it.
People do it all the time at every age so I have no excuses. These are the golden years and it's time to let them shine!
I started up this work out program again yesterday and I'm going to do my best to stick to it. I WILL change and it is going to be great!

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!

Halloween fell on a Sunday this year (all the holidays seem to be doing that) so all the towns celebrated it on the Saturday before (10/30/10). Marcel had to work that day so I ended up going over to Moroni to hang out with my family. We had a really great time! We made homemade salsa, Snickerdoodles, and my mom made her heavenly Cheese and Broccoli soup and got the cutest bread bowls to go with it!

We did all of this while watching the Halloween classic "Hocus Pocus"! It's a must watch every year!

After a while of eating and relaxing we decided it was time to dress up so everyone (meaning us kids and Toby) got ready!

After a while of hanging out and handing out candy to little trick-or-treaters (which all seemed to be afraid of my fangs) I headed back over to Nephi to drop in on a friends Halloween party. I showed up towards the end of the party but was able to play a really fun game of Pictionary, guys vs. girls! We were laughing SO hard and had a really good time! I was really bummed that Marcel couldn't be there (and he was bummed to be at work) but I still had fun!


Just a little sidenote: You know that scary monster you always knew was hiding in your closet, under your bed or in the basement?! Well he stood proudly out on Main street across from my house the ENTIRE MONTH of October!! Every time I went outside his creepy eyes watched me. I did not like it one bit! (The picture was taken at night so you can't truly appreciate the scariness of this guy! I couldn't look at him for very long! Seriously, Marcel had to take the picture! Lol!)!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Dress Up

(~Top Left:Kris, Rachel, Angela, Joanna, McKenzie ~Top Right:Amity

~Bottom Left:Wes ~Bottom Right:Michelle, Ferrin, Me)

At work we were allowed to dress up the Friday before Halloween (10/29/10). It was so much fun! There were a lot of people that played along and there was a contest for the best costumes. (~Top Left:Barbara, Karson ~Top Right:Von ~Bottom Left:Amy ~Bottom Right:Lynn, Jill)

As you can see there was quite a variety in the creativity! It was fun seeing every one's costumes and everyone had a good time! (~Left: Wes ~Right: Karson)

I ended up taking 2nd place in the contest for my Vampiress costume which I thought was pretty awesome! I didn't expect to win so it was a nice surprise and I got a $5 Subway card out of it so you can't beat that! :)

Rifle Hunt

So as usual we hiked our booties off searching for a buck! We hiked clear up to the base of the Red Cliffs...TWICE and didn't see one buck. We got drenched in rain (seriously, soaked to our underwear, and we had lots of layers on) the first time, and chilled with snow the second time. We saw a doe and 2 fawns that were lower down the first time and zilch the second.

{^During one of the rain/snow storms we bunkered down under a tree which served well as a little fort!^}

Yeah, needless to say, we were pretty dang ticked. Especially because we know there are big bucks up there. We found some HUGE tracks but couldn't find what it belonged to. Maybe next year! :)

We tried up the loop a few times but the amount of people that were up there was RIDICULOUS! I have never seen that many people up there before. What a joke. And again, we saw nothing.

By the 4th day I was feeling pretty desperate. We had decided that if the only thing we could find was a little 2 point or a spike then I just wasn't going to get one. Every deer we had seen coming off the loop was a dinky 2 point or smaller and that just isn't even fair so I was REALLY hoping to see something.

A friend of ours suggested that we try over by the old highway so we headed over there. We borrowed Pascal's 4-wheeler and headed up a trail, sat through a small snow storm

and again, you guessed it, didn't see anything. I was freezing and becoming agitated with our rotten luck (as was Marcel) so we decided to head down to the truck and maybe try again later in the day. Before loading the 4-wheeler up, Marcel decided we should ride over to another trail he knew and just see if we could see anything.

While riding along I spotted some deer up in the trees. Marcel immediately stopped and whipped out his bino's.

M:"It's a buck!"

J:"Are you sure? What size?"

M:"A decent two at least!"

We jumped off the 4-wheeler and set up for a shot. It took probably like 30 seconds (seemed like MUCH longer, luckily he was patient and didn't move!) for me to find him in my scope and even then I couldn't see antlers. I could see his shoulder area right in a small opening between 2 trees.

J:"Are you sure it's a buck?"

M:"Yes I'm sure! Shoot!"

J:"You are 100% sure?"

M:"Yes!"

I steadied my aim and pulled the trigger.

*BANG*

M:"Oh S@*%!"

J:"Oh no! It was a doe wasn't it!"

I was panicking a bit inside because I was sure I hadn't seen antlers.

Marcel reassured me that it was just that another buck jumped up after I shot and he thought it might have been bigger but it was about the same size.

M:"Nice shot Hun! You dropped him!"

*Celebration Hollers*

Turns out that I dropped him from 210 yards!

When we got up to where he was we were even more thrilled because instead of a decent 2 point he turned out to be a tall 3 point! Marcel admitted that he turned out to be A LOT better than he thought!

It all happened so fast that I barely had time to get really excited! A better word to describe how I felt is numb! But still a little excited! Marcel was so proud of my shot and I'll admit that I was too!

It didn't take long at all to get him cleaned up and on the 4-wheeler and we were headed back to the truck just as a second snow storm was hitting.

Marcel was steering with one hand and holding the buck on the front of the 4-wheeler with the other while I held the other handle to help him steer from the back. We were going slow enough that it was safe but it was tricky and FREEZING! That cold air just cuts right to your bones! But we made it back to the truck and got back home safe!

It was cold enough outside that we were able to just hang him in our carport to freeze for a few days so we saved some money in freezer fees!

We told my dad and brother about the other buck that was with him so they headed up shortly after us getting home to try and get him. As luck would have it, they did! Austen hadn't ever shot my dad's gun before and after a few shots he got him! They hiked clear in to get him and was halfway out when they were hit by a big snow storm and couldn't drag him anymore. My dad put his orange hunting vest around him and left him by a tree. After they had dinner we all headed back up around 9 or 10 that night and Marcel and my dad went out to find him, unsuccessfully. Everything looks SO different in the dark. Luckily when we went out again in the morning they were able to find him so we got some pictures!

Not bad for his very first buck!

We all had so much fun! I love hunting and can't wait for more scrumptious jerky!