I'm all grown up

Since I have been done Student Teaching I have been looking at teaching jobs and because I live in a kind of small town, there aren't too many Science Teaching positions open.  There were a couple at the Middle School here, but I didn't catch them in time, and, to be honest, I really don't like teaching Middle School aged kids!  I've tried and they are a little too immature for me!  Anyway, I had given up all hope when I happened to look last Wednesday and there was a position open and it was EXACTLY what I was looking for!  Part time, science, at a High School.  Perfect!  So, I ran around that day getting everything that I needed to apply for it and the next day I went and turned in my application. 

I didn't think I would get an interview until the next Wednesday or so, but they called up on Monday and set up an interview for that afternoon.  I was so nervous!  I spent the rest of the morning brushing up on my teaching skills and philosophy and looking up interview questions that they may ask.  There are some tough questions out there!  The interview went well.  Thankfully they didn't ask the tough questions that I was dreading.  I actually Student Taught with one of the interviewers, which made me even more nervous (not that I didn't like her, but that I knew her and she was helping interviewing me!).  I walked out feeling ok, but over analyzing everything that I had said (that is just what I do).  I called Clint and told him a play-by-play of how the interview went.  Clint told me to stop worrying and that I did great (he really is the best husband ever!).  So, I made up my mind that I didn't get the job and to stop worrying about it (for me, this is the only way to stop thinking about something). 

Well, this morning one of the interviewers called and asked some questions on specific classes I had taken and then told me that I only needed one more class and I would be qualified to teach Earth Systems (which was one of the classes they needed a teacher for) and asked if I would be willing to take that class this summer if it meant I would get the job.  I said yes, and she said thanks, we will let you know our decision.  That made me so nervous!  I was fine until that phone call!!  Anyway, I went to the library to look up that one class to see if it was offered this summer at the University and it is.  But, I didn't want to sign up for it if I wasn't going to get the job.

And then I got a phone call from the principal at the High School and she offered me the job on condition that I take that class, of course.  AHHHH!!!!  I said I accepted it and I would take that class this summer.  I was shaking so hard I could hardly hold the phone.  I know this is a very long story, but I need to ramble to someone, and Clint is at work and I have talked his ear off enough these past few days while he has been at work (hopefully he doesn't get in trouble!). 

So, I am officially a high school science teacher!  It feels good to have gone to school for so long and work so hard for something and have it finally pay off.  One of my dreams is finally coming true.  And, yes, I know it's weird to dream about being a science teacher, but that's just me.  I am a nerd and proud of it!

Circle of Life

My sister-in-law, McCall, had her baby. She is one of the cutest little babies I have ever seen, but I may be a little biased. She came a month early, but both Mother and baby are doing great.

Chloe
(How adorable is she?)

My Grandpa Walgren passed away on March 29, 2010. It was a long time coming, but still very hard. Each time I saw him I always told Clint: "This will probably be the last time I get to see him" and I've been saying that since before we got married three years ago. He had diabetes and the past 4 or so years the disease starting getting to him.

My Grandpa was a very special man to me. I always looked up to him and he was my favorite

person to talk to because he would always make me laugh. One thing that has stood out to me about my Grandpa was that he paid attention to details. My family and my Grandparents were all hiking and we would take frequent stops (mostly because of me...my face goes really red when I do practically anything and they were worried that I would get overheated). Each time we stopped, Grandpa would point out little things like a pretty little flower amidst weeds or a squirle or something like that. At first I was so amazed that he saw those things! But, then I started looking for them and I had so much fun showing him all the things that I saw. He taught me to slow down and enjoy the things around me because you may see something beautiful that you may have missed.

I love this picture of him. For some reason, it reminds me of President Hinckley. My Grandpa was very knowledgeable when it came to the gospel. I remember whenever he and my Grandma would come to visit we would all sit around the kitchen table and just talk. My Grandpa wasn't a very loud person, so when he spoke, you listened.

Me and Grandpa!

He was making a funny face, but my Mom took too long taking the picture...oh well.

I LOVE this picture of him!
This is exactly who my Grandpa was. Always pulling a funny face whenever he could.

Uncle David, Auntie Sheri, My Dad, Grandma, and Auntie Shelly all doing my Grandpa's favorite expression. Love it!
I love my family very much. I have gotten to know my extended family a little bit more these past 6 months and I can honestly say that I have the best family in the world! I wish we all lived closer so we could do things together more often.
My testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has increased tremendously. We believe that there is life after this one here on earth and that we will see those who have passed on once again. I know that someday I will see my Grandpa and my Auntie Wendy again. I still miss them, but I know that they are finally home and are healthy once again.

All in one

Just a warning, there are quite a few pictures on this posting! But, I guess that makes up for not posting in a while. Ok, so it's been a long time. Anyway, lots has happened.
First of all, our house is DONE! We are all moved in (well, our stuff is all in our house, wether we we have put it all away yet is the question) and we LOOOOVE it! We have no idea how we fit so much stuff into a one bedroom apartment. The only thing that I am not happy about is our rock on the front of our house. That is NOT the kind we picked out! But, whatcanyado? The only time I remember that I don't like it is when I leave and come home. So, that's not too bad.

The front of our house.

Front entry and our shoes : )

Living room, dining room, kitchen and stairs.
This was before they cleaned up so that is why there is dirt on our floors.

Hallway. Our one and only one!
You can kind of see the guest bathroom and a closet (love it!)

These are my absolute favorite things about our house! No more going to the laundry mat or to my in-laws to do laundry. I have my very own washer and dryer! And a room to stuff all our dirty clothes into :) The dryer in the picture isn't ours. They ordered the wrong kind, so we had to wait for 2 weeks before we got "ours". It was nice of them to let us borrow one they had.

Just to let you know, they are MASSIVE! I don't know if I was just used to tiny washer and dryers, but I can put a whole load in plus more! It's like heaven.

Sheep Festival

Every year, my best friend, Lori, comes down to watch the Sheep parade. We love it! It's a fun tradition. But, this year, the parade just wasn't as good. One year, the sheep got away and started going down one of the busiest roads here in our town. Funny! But, not this year. So, we are re-thinking our annual sheep festival tradition. We just weren't impressed. Allwell, it was still fun to get together like old times!

Me and Lori.
(Her aunt calls us chocolate and vanilla)

The sheep.
I think it's so funny how a town has a parade where they herd sheep down main street and that I actually go and watch it!

Volleyball

My sister plays for her high school volleyball team, and they won State! It was a good game! They played Lone Peak, which is their biggest rivalry, so it was even more intense. My sister called me Saturday morning and told me that she was playing later that night and if we could come. How could I say no? So, we drove and watch them win! It was well worth the drive.

They even had their mascot there (Go Vikings!).
What's funny about this is that this is the exact same costume they had for the mascot when I was in High School, which has been almost 6 years, and it was way old then.

Ready to play!

Auntie Wendy

My Aunt has been battling Breast Cancer for the past 8 years, and it finally caught up to her. She passed away the end of September. My family and I went to California for her funeral. Even though I knew she didn't have much longer, it was still hard. She fought hard. I had the opportunity to go with my Grandma, aunts and cousins to help dress her into her clothes. At first I was a little scared to do so, because I don't do so well with dead people that I have known (I don't know anyone who really does). Anyway, it was the most spiritual experience I have ever had. I know that we are here on Earth for a reason and that there is life after death. I know that I will see my aunt again someday.

Although the circumstance wasn't that great, it was nice to see the family that I rarely get to see. I have the most amazing family and I wish I lived closer to them.

Me, Jess, Auntie Siggy (my grandma's sis), and my Grandma Tia

"The Pink Ladies"

We all had pink scarves and worse pink ribbons to honor my Aunt. I have never been so proud to wear pink in my life. (For those of you who know me, I'm not a huge fan of pink, but now I am)

Me, Cole (doesn't he look like Edward from Twilght??), Jess, Jared, and Keenan is in front.

My Dad, his brother and Sisters and my Grandparents.
(It's wierd not seeing my Auntie Wendy in that picture.)

This is the only picture I have on my computer of her. Isn't she beautiful? Even though we didn't talk very often, I still miss her. She seemed to always be laughing and having a good time no matter what.

Well, that is all the pictures for now. I will be done student teaching on Tuesday (yay!) and then it's time for me to start look for a job (boo). This year for Thanksgiving, we are going to my parents'. Each year, we go to Temple Square in Salt Lake the day before Thanksgiving. I am excited! I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and eats lots of Turkey and yummy food! I know I sure am ;)

It's a House

School has started once again and it's sad to see summer go :( I am doing my student teaching, and so far it's not that bad. I'm student teaching with two teachers (one for chemistry and the other for biology) and they are both very nice and pretty laid back about things, so I don't think I will have a problem. Clint is still working (which he loves) and is going to night school three nights a week (not too bad).
This past week we found out that my sister-in-law, McCall, is pregnant! It came as a surprise because they just got married in June, but we are so excited! My little sister, Emily, is the most excited, I think. She called me as soon as she found out and was practically screaming. Kind of funny. No, this doesn't mean that I am pregnant or will get pregnant any time soon. It's not that we don't like kids, it just hasn't happened for us, yet. Plus, why have kids when we have nieces and nephews? It's a good deal, I think. We get to have all the fun and then give them back to their parents once they start crying or need their diaper changed :)

Anyway, our house is going up so FAST! It's been about five weeks since they started digging, and they are finished framing it. Here are some pictures of it going up!

Foundation! It had rained the day before and that day so it was SO muddy!
They poured the bottom of the basement (I have no idea what they call it...the floor?) Anyway, we were so excited! We walked all over it and started planning out what we are going to do with it. We came up with five different plans of how to finish it. We probably won't do any of them and come up with a completly different plan! But, it sure was fun to see it. (Clint had no idea I was taking the picture)

And then two days later, this is what it looked like! That space is the stairs going down into the basement.

And then 3 days later this is what had happened....

And the next day after that we had a roof! So much FUN!

This is what it looked like on the inside...kind of messy, but it's starting to look like a real house! (This is a picture of me standing in our dinning room looking into the living room/bedroom.)

This is the back of our house after they had finished framing (it only took them less than a week...fast!) There was a tractor in the way, so I couldn't get a real good one.

And this is the front! Every time we go out to see it, we get more and more excited for it to just be done! It has been fun to see the whole process of building a house, but it doesn't help that I'm impatient! Right now, they have all the windows in, the electrical is completed and they should start sheet rocking (spelling??) this next week. I have to say, I was a little worried about building where we are building because it is kind of out in the middle of nowhere, but each time we go out there, we spend like 2 hours just walking around. The sunsets we have seen are absolutly beautiful! I think I can get used to that!

Summer Fun

Wow! A lot has happened since I last posted...well, not really, but it seems like quite a bit for us!
First of all, my brother, Jeremiah, got married to McCall in June.

For some reason, we aren't all looking at the same camera!
(There were lots of people with their cameras there...oh so much fun....)

Me, Jessica (yup, she's my sister!) and our cousin, Megan (she just got home from a mission...she's so cool!)

My family! I think this is the first picture of all of us together.
Jared, Mom, Dad, McCall, Jeremiah, Jessica, Me, Clint, Emily and Spencer.


Fourth of July

For July 4th, we went up and spent the day with Clint's family. Clint's Grandparents had a huge party with ALL of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There were only 6 that weren't there out of 91. That's pretty impressive! It was fun to see lots of people that I don't know or only met once when Clint and I got married. But, it was HOT! It was kind of funny because people would follow the shade around to sit in so they wouldn't burn. I didn't get a lot of pictures because all we did was sit around, eat and talk. Afterwards, we watched the fireworks with my family and then drove home because we had to be back for Church the next day (I don't think we will EVER do that again!)

These are some of my nieces and nephews. They are SO CUTE!
(That's my brother-in-law in the back making a face)

Jenni, Josh, Jax, Julie, Joan and I'm sitting behind Joan. This is my In-laws' yard which is HUGE and so nice to have a big party like this in. In the back my dad-in-law made a play house which is just so cool and the kids love it (if you make the picture bigger, you can kind of see it).

Penrod Family Reunion

For Clint's family's reunion, we went up to Strawberry Resivoir (by Heber) and went camping and boating for two days. We had a blast! My brother-in-law half owns a cabin up there so we were able to stay in it and have a real toilet and Clint and I were able to sleep in a real bed (now, that's my kind of camping!) Anyway, we went tubing, had fun in the sun and just enjoyed each other. I love my nieces and nephews, but after this trip I'm almost glad that I don't have kids yet! I don't know if I could handle them! Well, it's a good thing they start out small and usually come one at a time. Everyone except one sister and her family were there (they are in Texis right now and couldn't make it up)

The water was FREEZING especially after you got out because the wind was blowing. These kids were so cute! They all huddled together with their teeth chattering.

My niece tubing! She was so funny! She always wanted to go faster and faster.
Oh, I love to tube! I just love boating.

Me and Clint goofing around.

Some of the boys got up early on Saturday morning and went fishing. My niece decided to go with them and she had a blast! She loved catching those fish and touching them and you could tell (she kind of smelled like fish when they got back).

After we ran out of gas for the boats on the second day, the kids had just as much fun playing with the tube as they did riding in it!

The cabin we stayed in. Way nice and had the most beautiful view! There was a huge deck on the back of it with a firepit in the middle which is where we spent our evenings. It was perfect, except for the excessive amount of flies! They were just annoying.

A House

So, Clint and I have decided to build our own house and we are WAY excited (and a little nervous)! It has been going very fast. We signed the papers last Tuesday, approved our house plan on Wednesday, and they started digging the hole on Thursday...crazy! We have become those people who go and look at their hole in the dirt at least once a day, if not more. But, we love it! We are sad that we aren't living closer to family, but we know this is the right step for us to take right now. It's kind of scary and fun all at the same time having to grow up!

The Hole