Mark is Tagged!

Mark has been tagged.  These are his answers transcribed by me.  You will see my comments in parenthesis. 

3 Joys:

1. Pizza

2. Basketball

3. Last, but not least, Elaina (Yeah, I better be a joy)

3 Fears:

1. Catching mice

2. Having kids (I KNEW IT!)

3. Waking up without Elaina by my side

3 Goals:

1. Choose the Right

2. Be successful

3. Have kids (Having a fear be a goal just doesn't quite make sense, but I'll take it)

3 Current Obsessions/Collections

1. Looking at Elaina

2. Stocks

3. Buying a House (you failed to mention the fact that you are obsessed with planning the add-ons we will need in 15 more years - I hope by then we move)

3 Random Surprising Facts

1. I can't sing (I don't think that's very surprising)

2. I've read all three Twilight Books 

3. I always secretly wanted to be a teacher, but used the dentist thing to get a wife AND IT WORKED!! HAHA!!  (I would have married you even if you had told me you were going to be a teacher)

Mark tags no one.

3 Things About Me

Ok, I've been tagged.  Enjoy :)

How to play this game of tag: Post these rules on your blog.  List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself.  Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.  Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.  

3 Joys: 

1. Being with my wonderful husband. I just love him!

2. Being with friends and family. 

3. The gospel.  I know its cliche - but really, there are so many times that I feel down on myself or about life in general and its the truths I've learned and the comfort they bring that usually help me to feel better or tell me what I should do.  

3 Fears:

1. Being alone.  I hate being alone.  I really do fear being left single, without children, without family, and even just being alone at night.  If I am alone at night my imagination goes into over drive.  Every noise is a rapist/killer.    

2. Spiders, bugs, snakes - all those nasty crawly things.  The worst is finding one in your bed or cup!!    

3. Throwing up.   I would do almost anything to avoid it or see it or hear it or smell it.   

3 Goals:

1. Read/study Preach My Gospel.  This is a task.  I think its a wonderful study source -  I need to do better on this seriously!    

2. Finish school and BTSA.  No more TPAs, tests, reflections, or nerve racking observations. 

3. Try to have fun and actually enjoy working out.  I envy people who enjoy working out, because I really don't like it.  People say the joy comes after you've been doing it for awhile - you know in high school, I worked out every day for cheerleading and I never liked it.   

3 Current Obsessions/Collections:

1. Reading anything and everything.  I love a good book and just getting lost in the language and story.  

2. Blogging.  Haha!  I have tried scrap booking and other such attempts at being creative - but I have finally found my niche!

3. Starting my family!!!  If you know me - you know this is true.  

3 Random Surprising Facts About Yourself:

1. I have been to England, France, Spain, and Italy - but not Mexico or Hawaii.   Most people frequent a country in their own continent before traversing across the sea.  Not I!  

2. I hate flying.  I'm not afraid - I just hate it.  Something about the feeling of being totally out of control for so many hours.  I survive and I fly often, but I always want a window seat and a book so I can concentrate on something else.   

3. I can't swim.  I can only doggy paddle.  I was afraid of going under water when I was younger.  My younger sisters both passed me in swimming lessons.  I stayed a guppy forever - well until I gave up.  Don't worry - I'm not afraid of water or putting my head under the water anymore.  In fact I love pools, boats, skiing, knee boarding, and tubing.  But just don't ask me to swim across a pool - I physically am unable.     

My Marky

I am home alone until Sunday night.  Mark is in Seattle for an AP conference for school.  So, while he was gone, I thought I would write a little bit about why I love Mark and add some pictures for emphasis.  

Mark is funny and fun to be around.  He can make everything an adventure and anything a joke.  He also tries to make everything a competition.  This picture demonstrates the one thing I can beat him at - cartwheels.  

Mark has a hot bod! :) He really loves being outside and being active.  Sitting inside the house for longer than a couple of hours drives him crazy!  He has introduced me to all sorts of activities that I would never have dreamed of - including rock climbing.  He is stretching me and my anxiety level.  
Mark is very patient and contemplative.  I could be jumping around like a psycho woman and talking a hundred miles a minute and this pose is generally what I see.  So calm and serene.  He is definitely my calming influence.  
I wish I had more pictures of just Mark that showcased all his wonderful talents and qualities.  This list is by no means complete - not even close.  If I wanted to write a real list it could get too ooshy gooshy for the blog.  It was just a fun thing to do while he was gone to show him how much I love and miss him.  Thank goodness for awesome husbands!   

Six Flags

Ok now we are getting really recent.  Two Mondays ago, our friends the Simpsons, invited us to Six Flags.  I was more than nervous.  The biggest ride I had ever been on was Space Mountain.  I didn't know how my body would respond to roller coasters or if I would even like them.  Mark was ready and eager to go and we weren't wasting our time on the small, old stuff (is there really a "small" ride at Six Flags? No.  I can now tell you from experience - there's not).  We started with the biggest, fastest, newest ride and worked our way down from there.  I surprisingly fared quite well and ended up enjoying myself.  Do I want to go back?  Maybe in a year or two once my head stops spinning.  

This is Dejavou - the ride that goes forward and then reverses and does the whole thing backward.   It also has a vertical drop where you honestly, truly hang from your harness.  The fear you see in my face is due to the fact that we were in line to be in the front.  During the vertical drop Mark and I had nothing between us and the ground but air.

These are our friends Audra and James Simpson, who we went with.  I think James is pretending to save Audra.  Hence the superman insignia.  

Mark and I both tried to make the Superman pose.  Mine just looks dumb because I'm sitting down.  This ride was beyond fast and loud.  I think I left my stomach back at the beginning of this ride actually.

I don't know how well you can see our faces, but this is what I looked like during all the rides - eyes squeezed shut and mouth wide open.  This was the newest, fastest, most extreme ride, X2.  So intense, but so fun!  

Three things to remember when we go to Six Flags again: 1) you can't bring your own food - they make you throw it away.  2) water is a necessity - bring lots and lots of it and 3) in the summer it is hotter than heck and no amount of shade or mist actually cools you down.  Infact the misters actually make you feel worse because they just exacerbate the sweat.  

Alas, we didn't get any more pictures of the rides, but they were all fun and all equally frightening.  Can't wait til next time.... I think.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

In May, our friends, the Blinsmons, were kind enough to take us with them on a hot air balloon ride.  We had to leave REALLY early in the morning and drive down to some place that I can't remember.  Once we got there we had to sign all those waiver forms - you know, the ones that usually make you more wary of what you are about to do to yourself.  Anyway, despite the butterflies in my stomach, I was excited.  How many people really get to go on a hot air balloon ride?  I mean really?  The balloon was way bigger than I thought it would be - but that actually made me feel better.  Who wants to go up in the sky with a pea sized balloon.  It was also way hotter than I thought it would be.  That flame is literally blowing inches away from the top of your head.  All in all - it was a fun trip and really exhilarating!

Me with Ceri.  In the next few pictures you will see the blowing up stages of the balloon.  Here we begin small.  The boys were a little unnerved that we had a "rainbow" balloon.  

Getting bigger.  Mark and I striking a pose.  

Time for the flame.  

Up, up, and away!  Isn't that honkin?

Here we are with the Blinsmons - ready for take off!

I know, aren't I lovely?  Mark is pushing me out of the balloon.  Ha ha funny.

Our captain told us that most balloons never make it above 2200 ft.  We, however, went above 4000 feet.  I did wonder if balloons incinerated in the higher atmosphere.  Mark thought it was really funny to spit and watch his spit fall.

Back safe and sound on the ground.  What a fun trip!

"Oh Say Can You Seeeeeee..."

During our spring break this year, we went to Washington DC.  The first day, we bussed in from Arlington and started our sight seeing.  It was frigid and I had only brought a sweatshirt.  Luckily as the day wore on it actually got quite warm - well warm enough to lose the gloves, ear muffs, and scarf - but about mid afternoon, the wind started blowing and, from my Oregon experience, I knew it would rain and did it ever!  It PORED and we were, I think, 11 or more blocks from the right bus station.  By the time we got on the bus we were soaked through and frozen solid.  From this experience, I learned a very important thing about myself - I could never be a pioneer woman.  The next day was much better, weatherwise, and we decided, who needs buses?  We left the house and walked through Arlington Cemetery, across the Potomac, and into DC.  I think I kept singing "Pioneer children sang as they walked, and walked, and walked, and walked, and walked, and walked, and walked, and walked....etc."   Once we were picked up by my aunt we spent the rest of our trip relaxing is West Virginia.  We had so much fun with my aunt and uncle and her family - playing guitar hero, watching movies, going to historic towns.  I loved every minute I spent with them.  We also visited some of Mark's extended family. Anyway, the trip came to an end too quickly and we were back to life.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.    

I thought I was quite the creative genius for this picture - what with the reflection and all.  This is the Vietnam Memorial and it is overwhelming.  All those names.  It is beautiful though and many people still leave flowers and pictures stuck in the cracks of the walls to honor the soldiers.  

"I Have A Dream"

Mark wanted to take a picture with one of the soldier statues - but that would have been highly disrespectful and we probably would have gotten in trouble - so we did what we could. 

Self-explanatory

I don't know technically how close we were allowed to get to the exhibits - couldn't resist.

Shout out to Oregon - land of the green, where waters flow and plants grow.  O beloved home, when shall I see thee again??  Who said I should teach music - bring on poetry!

Yay, California. 

What was that, Mr. President?

K, Mark, you're up next - don't forget to pull the right cord.  

Our bud, Abe.

This memorial was actually really awesome.  FDR has pretty much a whole park dedicated to him.  These are only two of the several memorials about his life and accomplishments as president.  Lots of good quotes too.

Mark didn't want to do this, but I made him.  I know, I'm mean.

He didn't want to do this either.

But I REALLY didn't want to do that.  Which is the more embarrassing one? I win hands down.

We came during the middle of the cherry blossom festival.  Here is a lovely shot of the blossoms, the Jefferson Memorial, and me with beef jerky.  

The other side of the Potomac - again a lovely shot of the blossoms, the Washington Monument, and Mark - no beef jerky.  It was really beautiful.  

The Washington Monument - it was so so so so so cold that morning.  Check out Mark's face - now he looks cold.  At least I had ear muffs, gloves, and a scarf.

On our last night in DC we went to the DC temple.  It is breathtaking!  We are laughing in this picture because I tried to kiss Mark - but if you remember from a previous post - Mark hates PDA and wouldn't have any of it in front of a temple.  But, I mean come on, with weddings and all I'm sure this temple has seen plenty of lip action.  

Cruisin' Californ-I-A

This past Christmas, Mark's parents took us on a cruise down to Baja and back.  We departed from LA and stopped twice - once at Catalina Island and again in Tiajuana.  We had lots of fun.

If you have ever been on a cruise you know that you have to do a drill the first day with your life jackets.  No Titanic episode for us.  We are ready!  Yuck - I actually put my mouth on that thing.

Mark is showing off our glorified airplane sized lavatory.  What you see is pretty much it.  I think he is also pretending to go potty.  Gross.   

Nice view from one of the decks.  We tried to go swimming, but even in Southern California it's too cold in December.  I tried, but ended up with a sweatshirt and a book.

Formal dinner night.  I think this was actually Christmas Day.  Mark refused to button his jacket so I am trying to hold it closed.  Stubborn.

 The whole fam damily.

In Catalina we hiked up to the top of a mountain thing where this other cool looking thing was.  Not quite sure what the point of it was, but it made for fun pictures.  Mark is King of Catalina!

You can kind of see what we hiked up and the ocean in the background.  Mark just loves getting kisses in public.  Loves it!  Actually, I think he almost pushed me over the side of the wall to get away from me.  Mark is not a PDA kind of guy.  

What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas

Near our one year anniversary, Mark and  I spent a weekend in Las Vegas to see The Phantom of the Opera.  Now that was awesome!  I wish we would have remembered to get a picture.  They built a theater just for that production and it was amazing!  During the rest of our time there we thought it would be fun to walk ALL the way down the strip and back.  Never, never, never again.  It was the middle of July and in Las Vegas it never cools down, not even at night.  The only relief is that at night the sun sets - but the temperature is still well over 100.  I have never been so hot, thirsty, or cranky.  It's a miracle Mark even got me to smile in some of these pictures.      

Do we look a little red in the face?  We watched the Bellagio fountain show on our way back up the strip.

I have to admit that the casinos are pretty cool looking.  This is the New Yorkish looking one.  I don't know what its really called.  

This was at the beginning of our journey so I was still in great spirits.  We went to the m&m factory and I got a picture with my lady friend here.  Just call us the Green Eyed Beauties.

During our stay we also went to the Shark Reef and saw some sharks and other such marine wildlife.  

Adventures

One of the things that I love most about my husband is that he makes everything fun.  The pictures you see are only a smattering of the things we have done together.   

During this adventure Mark wanted to climb to the top of the falls.  The sign said, "trail closed," or as I read it, "climb at your own peril," but of course that did not stop Mark.  After a few near death experiences and lots of bumps, bruises, and scratches we made it to the top.  I think I wanted to cry when I realized we had to climb down what we had just climbed up.  Mark did literally save me once from flying off the cliff - my hero.

Since it is perpetually hot in Apple Valley, we decided to have a water balloon fight in February.  We invited our neighbors and it was boys vs girls.  All I can say is, boys throw HARD and water balloons HURT!  I had welts and bruises all over my body by the end of the game.  But don't worry we got them back with buckets and hoses after they ran out of balloons.

On our 6 month anniversary Mark and I made the 1 1/2 hour trip down to Disneyland.  I love Disneyland!  Just call me a princess :)  It was October so the whole park was decked out in Halloween garb and we got a picture with Mickey in his costume!

Yes, still hot and sunny!

For one of our date nights, Mark decided to have an indoor squirt gun fight.  As you can see in the following pictures I lost badly - my hair is soaked, my shirt is soaked, and there is makeup running down my face.  Who knew those little guns could carry so much water.  Mark is still completely dry.  Lame!

This is another date night.  We bought playdough and made likenesses of each other.  I don't know if you can see, but Mark tried to give me super sized green eyes and chubby cheeks.  Thanks honey.  (punk) 

Although you can't tell, those things that look like ribs are actually supposed to be ab muscles.  I tried, but I am no artist.  

Here again, we are making likenesses of each other, this time with sidewalk chalk. 

This is one of our favorite past times - rockband/guitar hero.  Don't tell Mark, but I ROCK HIM!  Do you dig the towel turban on my head?

See, I told you we had fun!  Who wouldn't love being married to Mark?  Well tough luck kids - he's taken!