St. Louis Rams

Every time I'm on my computer my dad asks if I am posting on my blog about the Rams. He then proceeds to tell me how everyone wants to read about the Rams and that my blog will be much more popular if I write about them. Now you and I both know that writing about the Rams might actually decrease my blogs popularity, especially this season. However, Slim makes a lot of sacrifices for me so I can make one for him. Here is everything I know about the Rams.

1. Their colors are blue and gold.
   
2. Their home town is St. Louis, Missouri.
   
3. They used to be the Los Angeles Rams until 1995. (I think I even know the year! Slim will be so proud!)


4. The sport they participate in is football.
   
5. They used to have a player with the last name Warner. Which is how Slim became Slim Warner.


6. They now have a player named Torry Holt. The position he plays is unknown to me but Scooter has a Torry Holt jersey. I think his number is 81.


7. Their mascot is the Ram. :)


8. Their record this year is 3-12. They are struggling. This shows what a dedicated and loyal fan my father is. They have only won 3 games and yet he still wears his Rams jersey every Sunday for the games. He tivo's every game and if you accidentally delete the game before he has watched it you will be shunned. I know this one from experience. He travels to various locations around the United States to support his team and he convinces his anti-football daughter to blog about them. I love all of those things about him!

That is really all I know, however that is 8 facts. That is 8 more than I know about any other football team! This is my gift/sacrifice for my father. I will never post about football again. I promise.

Best of 2007

I got an e-mail from a friend that had her personal best of lists for 2007 and I was inspired. This year for me has been one of obsessions. I always seem to get obsessed with random things but this year I feel like I was more passionate about my obsessions than ever. This will explain a few of them.

Lindsi Marie's Best of 2007 List

Movies:

• High School Musical 2- Shocker
• Ratatouille
• Hairspray
• The Ultimate Gift

TV Shows:

• The Office-It's okay with me if the Hollywood Writer's Strike continues but please at least make a deal with the writer's of The Office. I'm dying here.
• Chuck- I seriously want to marry a man just like him. Nerdy but so dang cute.
• So You Think You Can Dance- I'm so happy Sabra won!
• Private Practice

Music: The CD's and songs I listened to a lot
CD's:

• Rascal Flatts "Still Feels Good"-They never disappoint me!
• Joshua Radin "We Were Here"- This man's voice is so sexy and I don't say sexy very often. The best song on the CD is Someone Else's Life.
• Hairspray Soundtrack- A lot of dancing has happened to this music, usually by myself. :)
• Colbie Caillat "Coco"
• High School Musical 2 Soundtrack- Duh. I need help.

Please notice that there is only one country album listed above. It has been a weird year for me.
Songs:

• All We Are by Matt Nathanson
• Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayer
• The Fear You Won't Fall by Joshua Radin
• Teardrops On My Guitar by Taylor Swift
• The Way I Are by Timbaland
• Love Song by Sara Bareilles

Books:

• Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephanie Meyers- It's true, I'm that trendy.
• Counting Stars by Michele Paige Holmes- Super cheesy LDS fiction, gotta love it.
• No One Can Take Your Place by Sheri Dew- If you are wondering if you are doing the right things with your life or headed in the right direction this book will inspire you to know.

News and Milestones:

• I completed my first year teaching!
• This was my personal year of sickness. I struggled with my health for a while and I believe I came out on top! Thank goodness for prayer, family, and friends to help and support me.
• I moved out of Utah County, all the way to West Jordan(lame)!
• I started to teaching in Sandy and switched from teaching second to first grade.
• My nephew Collin Ryan "Scooter" Sullivan turned one and my whole family is obsessed with him. Scooter said his first real big word today. It is turtle (durdle). Cute.
• Katie graduated from High School and is kicking butt as a freshman at UVSC. She does everything. She is a part of the Black Box Theater Company, PLP (leadership something or other), working, full time school, multiple plays and productions, and other freshman like things.
• Ryan and Jac started a company called The IT Phactor. IT stands for Information Technology. He does all sort of computer jazz. You can check out his website at http://theitphactor.com/company.html
• My Mom and Dad started an add-on to the house. They are in the middle of the process right now and they are excited for it to be finished! So we can enjoy it and to be rid of the mess.
• DJ is still doing his thing at BYU. He did fantastically at school and worked super hard with the lacrosse team. Things are looking good this year for lots of playing time for lacrosse.

That last section ended up turning into a Christmas Newsletter type situation. Sorry about that. It has been a really good year but I am also happy to say that it is over! I am one super blessed girl!

Igloo Videos

These are some videos that show our hard work and dedication to the making of our igloo. The best part about these videos is my Mom thought she was taking pictures. We therefore had no idea she was filming us. Silly Toni.

How to Build an Igloo

You may be under the impression that you know how to build an igloo but you're wrong. I'm not trying to be harsh or anything but I can't lie to you about it. I thought I knew too but it turns out it's a lot trickier than I thought. I now realize that I could never be an Eskimo and I admire their hard work and dedication.


Here are the steps for making an amazing igloo:

• Step 1: Wait for a solid snow storm. This storm came for me two Sundays ago. The snow was perfect packing snow and just the right wetness.
• Step 2: Recruit workers. It took a lot of persuading and bribing but I was able to talk Slim and Donna into participating in the work project.
• Step 3: Acquire the appropriate equipment. We needed something to mold the snow bricks into rectangles to create authenticity regarding our igloo. We used shoe boxes that we lined with tin foil. That was Slim's genius idea!
• Step 4: Assemble appropriate snow attire. For me that included my sweet 1992 Utah Jazz snow coat, pink and grey snow hat from the 80's, and my dad's snow pants (they were a little big). I look good.

• Step 5: Create the base of the igloo by stacking the snow bricks until they are 5 rows tall. This takes a lot of patience and you must be good at negotiating with your workers to keep them on the project. I promised treats, unlimited compliments, and I let them hit me with snowballs. They're easy.
• Step 6: When the base is built you throw some boards on top. You may not have heard of this technique before, however, it's normal protocol in igloo making. Trust me.
• Step 7: Get out the riding law mower with the snow blade attachment and scoop all the snow on the grass into a large pile. My greatest regret in life is not having a picture of Slim doing this. It was awesome!

• Step 8: Carefully place the snow on top of the boards and smooth it out. Round the snow into a smooth dome shaped mound.
• Step 9: Step back and take a moment to admire your fantastic work!

Here are a few more pictures just in case you weren't able to get the full visual from the steps. It sounds like a lot of work but it is worth it in the end. :)

Disclaimer: Our igloo fell apart about 3 hours later. I know what a huge disappointment this is. I had to wait until the end to tell you. Otherwise you wouldn't have read on; I know I wouldn't have.

I love Costco!

Costco really is like paradise to me. Items in bulk bring a smile to my face. For the A Plus Home Care and Hospice (my parents company) work party we went to Costco. Before you wrinkle your nose or decide that doesn't seem cool let me just elaborate on the greatness of a Costco holiday party. We arrived after hours and were treated to some delicious costco bakery dinner choices, cakes, and other goodies. We then recieved gift cards as part of our bonus and were let loose. It felt like in the movies when someone gets locked in the walmart after hours and goes to town. I felt free to explore and enjoy the Costco with nobody judging or rushing me. I usually feel very judged by the fellow shoppers. I'm random and that scares some people. We wandered around, ate our items before purchasing, had cart races, made up some sweet dance moves with the cart, tried on robes and other important clothing items, etc. Normal shopping stuff. :) As we shopped they had various games and activities in which you could win more gift cards. Chris Nelson came with me and his crazy hip swinging hula hoop skills beat all the females and won us $10.00! I did pretty well at the football throw and was able to add $5.00 to that. We participated in the cake walk for some of the bakery goodness however we failed at that. We came up empty handed. We were able to do Karaoke singing to the fellow A Plus employees and let's just say we brought them to tears (of joy, duh). It was a blast and I had a little heart expandage toward Costco. I didn't know I could love it more but I do.

I haven't seen any of my former co-workers in a long time and Chris and I decided it would be a good idea to play a trick on them. All it took was my sister-in-laws wedding ring on the appropriate finger, some fake flirting, and lots of body language. We had them hooked. The gossip mill was faster than I expected and my parents and siblings were dodging questions from all over the place. It was hilarious! The funniest part was that nobody asked Chris or I about it. They just stared at my finger the whole time they talked to me and then went and asked other people. I guess it isn't believable that I could be engaged. Sad day. Anyways, I have some pretty good engagement photos that we took that night. They aren't awkward at all. :) Which one do you think we should put on our announcement?

Gazing into eachothers eyes. I'm not a very good gazer.

Face shot. You might think I have food on my face but no. That is a Christopher Nelson original teardrop design. Don't be jealous.

My hand is strategically placed on his chest to show my bling.

My favorite shot. The word "frolic" keeps coming to mind.

The best event of the night however is what I was able to purchase while there. Two items that have completley changed my outlook on and way of life. The first is a Costco membership. I had never been to a Costco alone because I didn't have a membership. Since I got mine own card just 10 days ago, I have been twice. All by myself!!! I have already spent way too much time and money at that store but each time I left with a grand smile upon my face. The second life-changing purchase made that night was the 80 gb ipod. I have always thought I was above ipod's. That I didn't need one and that they were just a trendy cd player. Well, I decided to break down and try it out. How did I live without one for so long? It is wonderful and my new constant companion! I'm now a proud ipod addict.

In conclusion, the Costco party was a huge success. I got to enjoy my favorite store when it was practically empty, fake an engagement, purchase lifechanging items, and have an enjoyable Saturday evening out. I couldn't ask for more.