Look what we have been up to!

I decided I had better get on here and blog before I get too far behind. A lot has happened in the past few weeks here at the Curtis’. We have been very busy!


On May 27 Mark and I had to say good bye to our very good friends the Mack’s. They left to make the long trek back home to Ohio to begin a new chapter in their lives.

As you can see both Mark and I are very sad to see them go, but we are excited for them as they begin this new adventure much closer to family. We just hope to make many trips out to Ohio to visit often. Thank goodness for blogs to keep us up to date!

Mark and I have been looking for natural gas vehicles off and on for a little while, but when the house deal fell through we decided to take it a little more serious. We spent days and nights scouring the internet for a good deal on a natural gas truck. After quite a search we found one. I was on KSL cars just moments after someone posted a 2000 Ford F-150 pickup. I called Mark immediately and told him what I found. We called the guy right away and set up a time to meet to check the truck out. We were a little disappointed to find out how beat up the truck was. Mark decided he could fix it up, so he negotiated with the man to sell it for a thousand dollars less. We are now the proud owners of a 2000 Ford Natural Gas Truck. Mark has received quite a bit of criticism and teasing for buying a Ford, but he just tells everyone he will be the one laughing when he is paying 64 cents a gallon to fill the truck up rather than $4.00 a gallon.

That brings me to my next bit of news. We are selling my Cavalier to get rid of an extra car and an extra car payment. If you know of anyone looking for a great little car that is excellent for gas millage let us know. It’s a 2004 Chevy Cavalier, it has super low miles (37K) and it’s in great condition.




We are also selling Mark’s truck if anyone is looking for a Dodge D-50 Convertible! This was Mark’s show truck that he built in High school. It has all the added little extras like shaved handles and a suicide hood. It can also be a low rider truck if that’s your cup of tea.


My Birthday was last Friday and I guess you could say I am one year older and wiser too! My sisters boys made my day when they called and left a message on my phone whishing me a happy 13th birthday! When Amanda asked them how old they thought I was, Tait guessed 13! Man Mark married young.

Last year for my Birthday we went bowling with some friends from the singles ward a day or two before my birthday. We ended up celebrating my birthday and another friend from the wards (Blake) birthday. I was excited to find out we were doing it again this year. Here are some pictures from the event last year and this year! I don’t have too many from this year since my camera batteries were dying.
Last year:

















This Year




On my actual Birthday Mark surprised me by giving me a picture of Christ. All day Mark kept hounding me to go pick up my paycheck from work. I continued o tell him that I would either today or tomorrow because it wasn’t a big deal since I was only picking up the paycheck stub my check had already been direct deposited. He kept insisting I go. So after lunch I decided I would go down and get it and then go get my hair cut. When I got to work Jared came to the back to give me my schedule and to give me something Mark wanted me to have. Mark had bought the Simon Dewey picture, “The Lord is my Sheppard” .
the night before and instead of trying to hide it from me just kept it at work. I was so surprised! This is one of my favorite pictures.
Later that day I treated myself to a haircut for my birthday. Then when Mark got off work we went out to dinner at Macaroni Grill. It was a wonderful day! Mark did a good job on the surprise too! I definitely have the WORLD’S GREATEST HUSBAND!
Then to end the week Mark and I were able to attend my friend Gina’s wedding up at the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful wedding.

It has been a busy few weeks but we have enjoyed every minute of it.

Chirp Chirp!

It all started on Saturday when we weren't getting any hot water in the shower. I hoped in the shower on Saturday morning to find that there was only cold water. Now I used to have this problem of cold showers growing up in a family of five and if I was the last to shower on a particular day then I was doomed to have a cold shower, but when there are just two people in a house with two water heaters you tend to be a little surprised when this happens to you. After some screaming in the shower on my end Mark headed outside to look in our air vents. Sure enough there was a bird’s nest tucked away in the hole. Mark got a couple of hanger and stretched them out to get the nest out. Not only was he able to get the nest out but he also knocked out two baby birds. Problem solved right? Wrong!

On Monday night we noticed some chirping near the air conditioner. We didn't think much of the chirping because they uncovered our air conditioner on Saturday so we just thought that because of this we could just hear the birds chirping outside better. The only problem was the chirping didn't go away. We turned on the air conditioner and they still chirped. As we investigated the chirping a little more we realized the noise became louder when we opened the washroom doors. We soon discovered that the Birds had crawled into the dryer vent from outside and made their way to the middle of our house and nested the dryer vent.

We called our land lady to see who we need to call to have this taken care of. We weren't sure if this was the responsibility of her or are HOA. She gave me an e-mail address of the management guy and told me to keep her in touch. I didn't like that answer so I called the HOA president, and he told me that because they were in our house they were our problem. We got out our hook again and pulled out some more nest and feathers. The chirping soon stopped so we figured the birds had flown away. We borrowed a shop vac from our neighbor Kory to see if we could vacuum up the last of their remains and maybe a bird if it was still in there. We also blocked off the vent so they wouldn't return.

That night I didn't sleep very well and I tossed and turned. I began to hear a weird noise outside and I woke Mark up at about 7 am to see if he knew what it was. He heard the noise too so he go up to open our bedroom do just to hear the sound of chirping birds in the ceiling again! The weird noise I heard was the parents trying to get into the vent again to get to their babies. They were hitting the side of the house. So at 7 o'clock in the morning this was Marks plan of attack!
(Click ont he film strip to watch the movie)











After about an hour we saw a bird jump out of the hole outside. We no longer heard chirping so we sealed the hole up again and we went to work. When I got home again around 2 I heard chirping the minute I walked into the door. I called Mark immediately. He already knew and had put a piece of bread at the end of the pipe that was in our washroom to try a lure him out. So I sat in our house this afternoon reading a book and listening to a bird chirp. Needles to say, by the time Mark got home I was ready to scream. I wanted the stupid bird out. We could hear it inch its way closer to the food but it just wasn’t brave enough to go for it. So we decided to try a new plan of attack. After two more holes in the ceiling we were finally able to corner him.

I truly enjoyed walking into the back room to find my husband’s head in the ceiling.

He was able to take a picture of our new friend. After about another hour and one more hole in our ceiling the bird was out. The chirping has stopped and I am very grateful. But now, I have four holes in my ceiling. I would be upset but Mark assured me he could fix them. In the mean time I have vowed to never own a bird as a pet for the rest of my life.

A Day at the SPA

WOW! What a day! A day at the spa can really help you relax. For graduation my dear sister Amanda gave me a gift certificate for the new spa in Lehi, Journeys End. I was very excited but a little scared to go by myself. I was thrilled when I found out that Erica's husband Shannan had given her a gift certificate to go with me! So last week we found a day we both could go and made our reservations for the Journeys End pedicure and manicure. I had no idea I could enjoy so much some playing with my feet.

We arrived at the spa early and they led us out to their back patio to relax until they were ready for us. While we waited they brought us a drink and a little snack to enjoy. We sat out there just visiting and enjoying this moment of peace. As time went on I began to hear a tractor in the distance. I made the comment to Erica, "This was relaxing until that noise started." We laughed and then all of the sudden here came the tractor right where we were sitting. The man running the tractor was digging a hole for the fence. Although we wouldn't have minded a young handsome young man out there to fan us with a leaf and feed us grapes, we were not expecting the middle aged construction worker with his two padres. Luckily we were able to go inside and begin our pedicures.

The atmosphere was very relaxing and the ladies that worked on us were very friendly. It was so nice to just sit back and just enjoy the peace. I have never had a manicure or a pedicure before and I loved every minute of it. I think I could get used to going back again and again for the same treatment. Next time I think I'll go for a message!

I had a total blast and I was very excited I could do it with Erica. I was very thankful for one more girl’s day out with just the two of us. I don’t know what I'm going to do with out here.

Here are some of the pictures from our outing and the before and after pictures of my hands and feet. Thanks again Amanda! Now I think we need to go together!
Before




After

1st Grade

I got the call I have been waiting for yesterday morning. The Principal of Northdridge Elementary called to offer me the 1st grade position I had interviewed for. I of course accepted! I just hope I can be a great teacher! I have some great teachers to live up to. One of those teacher would have to be Mrs. MacKay my first grade teacher:
I remember three distinct things about Mrs. Mackay, one, she read us the book The Wizard of Oz after recess every day. I didn't know it was a book I just thought it was a movie. The book she read from seemed like it was a giant book and it had neat pictures every so often. I have since bought a copy of The Wizard of Oz. I just can't find a large copy of it.

Another thing I remember was, one day during school we had a big rain and thunder storm. Our classroom had one wall that was entirely windows. Mrs. Mackay gathered us all over by the windows and while we watched for lighting and listened to the thunder and rain she read us the book Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco That was a neat day. (I need to buy that book.)







My final memory of her is kinda funny. I remember that she always seemed to make me sit next to Sean. Sean was the class clown and was always getting in trouble. Well when ever Sean would misbehave Mrs Mackay would take the pointer stick with the large wooden apple on one end (ironically I gave her this pointer stick for Christmas)and hit the desk to scare him and to get him back on task. I was always afraid she was going to hit me or miss and get my fingers. I think this discipline tactic did a better job scaring me then it did getting Sean in line.

The other interesting thing about Mrs Mackay is we shared the same first name. I thought that was sooo cool.

My other great teacher is Miss Honey from Matilda. I mean you can't beat Miss Honey.


I am sure I could name over 100 more great 1st grade teachers and just teachers in general. I have a lot to live up to, that's for sure.

Finished!!!

I am officially finished with college!! I even have the college degree to prove it, oh wait I will have the degree in July, right now I have a green cover for it.

I can't believe it finally happened. I graduated on Friday with all of my good friends. There were so many times that I wanted to just give up and not go back. towards the end you get so sick of jumping through hoops for professors. But looking back it was all worth it in the end.

All of my family who could make it were in attendance. Mark's parents and his sister Monica and her kids and Nancy and Hagen came up for the event. My parents were both there and my sister and Miles came and Mike and Becky, and Grandma Winnie and Grandpa Proctor were all able to attend (I was so glad they were both able to attend.)


After the graduation we all headed out to Springville for some good vittles at Cracker Barrel. It was a very exciting day!









I have had some people ask me if I'm going to miss it and of course the answer is no who would? I mean the boring lectures, the exams, the papers, the finals, (good luck Becky). There is one thing I am going to miss. That would be the social part of school. I will miss the friends I have made. In our cohort of girls we all really got along and had a blast together. From cohort Christmas parties with lingerie to coloring pictures from a coloring book during ESL Methods. I'm going to miss seeing them every day. I am hopping that we will still talk and catch up on what is going on in each others lives. Especially our little table of friends.

Here you go, Now leave me alone!

I am writing a new post because of the many requests from everyone! I didn't fully understand how much everyone loves and adores me and needs to know what I am doing at every waking movement. I feel so loved!!!

I haven't posted because life has been busy. I have been preparing to graduate this Friday. I have been substituting at Northridge Elementary where I did my student teaching. I have also gone back to work at Seagull Book for the summer. On top of it all Mark and I have started looking for a home.

I have gotten better at taking pictures of all the things I do so I can blog about them it’s just sitting down at the computer and typing up the info and posting the pictures. Don't worry; I'm making a new goal right now! I am planning on being better at blogging, I will not let two weeks of events go by before I blog about them! Unless we find a house and then I may have a longer gap because of packing and unpacking and all that fun moving stuff. Who knows maybe all have Amanda post something for me during that time.

With all the events that are taking place right now some fun and exciting stuff has happened in-between. First off I am done with school and I graduate on Friday. I also received the results to my PRAXIS exam (the teaching certificate exam) and I passed!!!! Shocking I know.

Mark and I took a break two weeks ago and went down to Aurora to spend time with his family. While we were there we went on an all day 4-wheeler ride with Marks dad, uncles, and cousins. I had a blast. I'm really glad I decide to go with them. We saw some really beautiful country out there it reminded me from a scene out of the movie cars. I told Mark I feel like I'm in Radiator Springs.

While we are down there Mark and I stumbled across a house that we have considered buying. It’s perfect. I think most realtors description of it would be a cozy, country feel home, ideal for a young couple’s starter home. Other then the commute for us I think it’s a keeper. I don't know you tell me.

We also celebrated Hagen's first birthday while we were down there. Chase and Nancy put together a yummy barbeque with all the family. It was fun to see everyone gather together and enjoy good company and good food. Hagen seemed to enjoy his cake too.

I am thankful to my new extended family and the opportunity we have to go down there every once in a while and get away from all the hustle and bustle and go 4-wheeling and visit with them. I have officially given myself a bad rap down there. I've been asked d why it is that whenever I come down all I want to do is sleep. It’s either because they plan outstanding outings that wipe me out or it’s because I’m just used to the busier life up here and the minute I get down south my body begins to relax and so I sleep. Either way, I love it.