IT IS REALLY HAPPENING!

We are definitely going to Europe this summer! More importantly we are going to Germany this summer! I didn't know if I was ever going to get back when I left in June 2010 but it is really happening. We are both so excited to visit the friends that we met while serving our missions there. It took forever to book our flight because we wanted to get the best deal possible. I am so excited and can't wait until June 7th when we are on that airplane flying over the ocean. Let's just say we have a lot of planning to do between now and then. I was looking up stuff today about Frankfurt and came across this picture, oh how I love this city.

Valentine's Day

It seems like everyone has a strong opinion about Valentine's Day, for me it is a good excuse to go on a date with Spencer. We had to celebrate on Monday night because I had to teach on Tuesday. This was probably a good idea though, everything is always packed on Valentine's Day. Spencer has been planning our anniversary weekend so I decided that I would plan our date. First we decided to open presents. It has been hard to shop for his birthday, anniversary, and valentine's day. I guess I will be doing it every year so I should get used to it. haha. I ended up getting him a wallet and a belt (more just things that he has been needing) and I got a cute glass decoration that has the month of March and it say the day I said I do (Spencer was a little more thoughtful) with a personally made card. Then we went to Applebee's. It was fun just to sit and talk. I feel like we don't have as much time to do this anymore. We have very opposite schedules and are home at different times during the day.

Then we went and saw The Vow. Everyone should go and see this. Such a cute story and it reminds me a lot of the Notebook and I love that show. It really is as good as the commercials make it out to be, which we all know isn't always true.  

Here are a couple of pictures from the fun night:

Spencer at Applebee's

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Hope you had a great day! 

Eleven Things

Kira, my sister-in-law recently tagged me to do this post. I figured it would give me something to do while I was at work this morning. I'm usually not very good at these things but here it goes.
1. If your name wasn't what it is, what would you want it to be?
I've never really thought about this before, but off the top of my head I would have to say Junie Ann. I had to include the middle name because that is what I really care about. I've never had a middle name, and two of my friends growing up had the middle name Ann so my name became Jan Ann when they wanted to make it longer. Junie is a cute girl's name that belongs  to a girl I teach in nursery right now. It is June spelled the Germany way with an e on the end. Plus it sounds really good with Ann.   
 
2. What is your most embarrassing moment?
I never have a good one for this question. On my first day in Germany it was really cold and  I was trying to put on some thicker tights. In the process I forgot that I still had a short slip on. These are the kind that are actually shorts, which make it easier to ride a bike, but not so easy to put on tights. I had to take everything off and start all over. I had only been with my trainer for 10 minutes I am sure she was like what am I going to do with this girl?
 
3. What are 2-3 things on your bucket list?
1. Have four kids (well I guess have three and adopt one). 
2. Go to Germany and see all the people that  I love and miss. 
3. Help Spencer graduate school. This will be the best day of my life when this happens.
 
4. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Aggie Blue Mint!

5. If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I would have to say Joseph Smith. I came to really know him when I was on my mission and I love his story. He was so strong and did so much for the church.
 
6. What is a good book you have recently read?
Well I don't like reading books. I will have to read one soon. Maybe this should be on my bucket list.

7. What is your favorite scripture?
Alma 26:12

8. What is your happiest childhood memory?
I don't remember much from my childhood for some reason. I would say the happiest memory is eating peanut butter on a spoon with my mom after everyone went to school. It was our little treat.

9. What is your favorite restaurant?
This is an easy one, Texas Roadhouse!

10. What is your favorite time of the day?
I would say around 7 at night. This is when Spencer and I are both home eating dinner and most likely watching the Bachelor, Biggest Loser, or the game show network.
 
11. If you could live anywhere else, where would it be?
Somewhere warm. I would have to say St. George because it is still pretty close to family. Another plus is I would also live closer to Lindsey so we could see each other more.

I tag the following people:

Kellie T.

Lindsey H.

Lindsey S,

Heidi A.

and whoever else wants to.... ( I honestly think these are the only people that read my blog)

Here are my questions:
1. What is your favorite color and why?

2. Your favorite date idea or the best date you have ever been on?

3. What would you do if you had 10 spare minutes?

4. What is your favorite childhood memory?

5. What is your favorite movie?

6. Name 2-3 things on your bucket list.

7. What is your favorite shape and why? I know this sounds weird but it says a lot about your personality.

8. What is your most embarrassing moment?

9. What is your favorite restaurant?

10. What are your favorite gifts that you have given and received?

11. What is your favorite candy bar?

Enjoy!

"Go Our Team"

My family loves the Super Bowl! We have been having a super bowl party for the past 11 years. (My parents have been married for 11 years and we started the tradition then. Dean makes an amazing cheese dip and for some reason that is what I remember the most from all the year. Not who won or lost but the amazing cheese dip.) This year we celebrated Dean's birthday and the game together. Grant wanted to help him blow out the candles. Happy 64th birthday Dad! Hope you had a great day! We brought him a gift with Brian and Heidi this year. We got him a date night to the Jazz game on March 12 and a candy gram. Thanks Heidi for putting everything together, it all turned out really cute.

It was fun to all get together and talk while watching a good game and eating a lot of food. I personally didn't think the commercials were very good this year so it's good thing the game was good. That isn't always true. Here are all the Patriots fans: (the losing team)

And all the Giants fans: (the winning team)

Here is Spencer in his 49ers gear as promised. I think he missed the memo that they lost a couple weeks ago and didn't make it to the Super Bowl. I got cold and ended up wearing his hoodie so we both looked funny cheering for the Giants while wearing clothes that said 49ers. It turned out to be lucky though because they ended up winning! Go our team, go! 

Angel's Landing and St. George Weekend

This past weekend we decided to take a short vacation to St. George. It was so nice to get away from the cold and see the sun again. I love southern Utah and have since I was a child. I love the pretty red rock and how warm it always is. I keep telling Spencer that I want to move there but that will have to wait at least until he graduates. It is just close enough to still see family but have our space. 

We headed down on Thursday night after I got off work and we packed the car up. I tried to watch Cars 2 but only watched part of it before I fell asleep. Big surprise, I know. Spencer managed to watch it while he was driving. I am surprised that we made it there safely. The ride went by really fast, maybe I am just comparing it to our road trip in May where we were driving forever! I had a lot of energy when we first got there so I put the movie in and watched it all over again. I think it was one of the first nights that Spencer fell asleep before me. 

The next day we woke up and went swimming with all the cousins. We got our the basketball hoop and some balls so that kept us busy for awhile. Then it was time to go golfing and test out my new clubs. I still like to hit it to the right but towards the end I was starting to get the hang of it. Spencer did great as usual and he had fun being competitive with Jason. The ground was still hard and we could barely get our tees in the ground. 

After golfing we met back up with the family and went laser tagging and to get ice cream at Nielson's Custard. Then we went hiking to the Dixie rock. I was still able to fit down the narrow and Spencer was even able to also! This could be the only time that will be true because it has lost so much weight since he started taking this new medicine. Spencer loves fitting in small places. This was the perfect fit!  

Such a pretty view

Walking now the narrow with Michelle and Hayley 

Ryan and Robert are always ready for pictures

On Saturday we woke up and headed to Zions National Park. I had never been there before but heard so many good things about it. It was a perfect day, blue skies, no wind, and warm. We hiked Angel's Landing and it was pretty long about five miles to the top and back but it was so worth it for the amazing view. This is the time of year to do it though because there isn't as many people and you don't have to take the shuttle up the canyon. 

Okay I had to put this one on here. Spencer was freaking out the whole time because we were too close to the edge. He said there was just something about it that didn't feel right. Funny boy. 

On the way home we stopped at a shooting range. We had a lot of empty water bottles that we had a fun time shooting. Then we tried alligator jerky, and I actually tried it. I never try anything new. I am here to report that it actually tasted pretty good.

After the full day we headed to Cafe Rio for dinner. We took it back to the condo and had a nice dinner while watching the 49ers game and we are so glad that we did. It was such a good game and the 49ers won which made it amazing plus I had a happy husband. Sunday morning we woke up and got everything together and played a quick game of tennis and wall ball. Then we went to the visitor's center to watch Finding Faith in Christ before heading home. It was nice to get away for the weekend and spend some time together. 

Winger's Sticky Fingers

So I have always loved Winger's sticky fingers and sticky finger salad. Something that I don't like is their crappy service. I swear every time I go there they are so slow! My friends and I would always go there when we were in high school because it was cheap and fun but honestly we never paid attention to slow service because we were never in a hurry. What else did we have to do besides sit there and talk all night? As I have gone there over the past couple of years I have really started to notice how bad it is. Well enough of that.... this is why I was so excited when I found this copycat recipe for sticky fingers. I can make them at home now and not have to worry about the service. Now I can have them whenever I want. I am in love!

Here is all that you need to know. I had all the ingredients in my fridge. I already love Frank's Hot Sauce so you can even use that alone if you want to mix up the taste of your chicken. 

Winger's Sticky Fingers Recipe:

1 pkg. frozen breaded chicken strips (We use Tyson brand)

6 Tbl. Frank's Hot Sauce (It has to be Franks Hot Sauce, no other sauce will taste as good)

4 Tbl. water

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

Chicken:

Prepare the chicken strips as directed on the back of the package.

Sauce:
Heat hot sauce, water and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, until sugar is dissolved. Pour sauce over chicken, and enjoy! Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.

Serves 2-3 people.

 

Here is the cute website where I found the recipe: http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com she has a lot of great ideas!

Highlights from 2011

I am finally posting about all the amazing things that have happened this year. There has been a lot of changes in our lives since last January it would take forever to tell you about all of them but here are a few of my favorites that I don't ever want to forget. (these are in no order)

We got married! This was the best day of my life. I thought having a wedding in March met that we would have snow but it ended up being a perfect day: sunny and blue skies. 

We celebrated our first Christmas together and bought our own tree. This was an adventure all in itself and a very big decision.

Kellie and Lindsey came to visit and we all had a fun weekend at the cabin together. We hadn't been together for a long time and spent the whole night catching up.

Fun trip to Park City with the family. We tried to stay at the cabin but Grandpa had invited some other friends to stay for the weekend. Oops!

I started learning how to golf and got my own set of clubs. I am so lucky to have the best teacher in the whole world. Who needs lessons......not me. haha

We opened our own tumbling gym. I have always wanted to own my own business it wasn't until this year that I realized that it would be a tumbling gym. I love it though and am sure that I will be teaching for the rest of my life. I just love the feeling that comes from teaching these kids! 

The fun Disney Cruise with Spencer's extended family. There were 36 of us all together and it was such a fun experience. Thanks grandma and grandpa for the amazing Christmas present.

Finally went and visited Kell and Andy in Seattle and saw where they lived. Such a crazy road trip but we all had a fun time together. Thanks Heidi and Brian for making everything happen, you guys are professionals when it comes to road trips.

Started out our marriage in this cute little basement apartment and moved to Holladay.

Went on our honeymoon to Cancun, Mexico. We did a lot of fun activities like swimming with the dolphins, para sailing, shopping, lunch cruise,  and dinner brought straight to our room.

The Hafer Reunion at Reid Ranch. It was Spencer's grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary.

                                      

I finally graduated from Utah State with my bachelors in Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Management with a minor in German. Such an exciting day to share with my brother Brian. 

We had such a fun time this year getting to know each other better and figuring out what this marriage thing is all about. The things that we are most grateful for are good health and the many challenges that we made it through together. We know that it has made us a stronger couple. Now we can make it through anything that comes our way!