Volleyball Champions

Ethan recently participated in the 13-stake volleyball tournament with the ward and they won! The whole experience was new to me, but they designated two buildings to play at and after "regular season games" (which seriously consisted of one because everyone kept forfeiting) they played like 5 games going back and forth between the two buildings. That was last week and then just last Wednesday night, they had to play 2 more teams for the championship. It was just a lot of fun to watch him in an intramural type setting again. They even got a prize... a candy bar or a bag :) He went with the bag.

Halloween!!!

We had a great Halloween party with some well dressed friends and Minute to Win it games! It was a great Halloween. A very famous crowd was here!!




Nomeo and Juliette

Waldo and Carmen San Diego

Jimmer and Whitney Fredette

Softball Wound

Ethan and I played a lot of softball this summer and it was great to fill our intramural void just a little bit. Ethan played on two Overstock teams and we played on a co-ed team through Ethan's dads law firm and also played on the coed Overstock team. We had so much team despite the fact that the two co-ed teams were the worst in the leagues. However, Ethan almost hit a home run, I hit a triple, Ethan caught like every fly ball in left field, Ethan made a diving catch (literally dove in the air) as well as a sliding catching, true golden glove, and I made a double play while playing second. I also had the #5 batting average for the women, which isn't saying much but I just won't mention how many women batted.
So I love bruises... like a lot. The last game I was playing second, a ball was hit, I thought it was a grounder but it really was just a low line drive. I stepped in front of it to stop the "ground ball" but instead I got BEAMED in the knee with the ball. I thought I was going to pass out!! It was terrible, but I was sorta excited the whole time because I knew it was going to leave a bruise and leave a bruise it did!!!!

Day one



Day two


Day three
These were the best pictures that I had.. The bruise lasted about 2 weeks and I still feel it 3 weeks later when I touch my knee in the right spot!! Crazy right!!!!

Jimmers Allstars

To celebrate the marriage of our good friends, Evan and Emily, we all went to the Jimmer's Allstars game. It was basically a game where all the kids that got picked to be in the NBA but have not been able to play yet because of the lock down, got together to play an awesome game of basketball. Oh and Jackson was invited too :)
It was fun to watch because it was good playing, lots of dunks, lot of assists, and the most colorful teams that the Marriott center has EVER seen.
We were having a great time and then the show got even better. Of course the half time show was Jimmers older brother TJ Fredette who is the biggest coat tail rider I have ever seen. He is an aspiring rapper and I think always will be, but he is always where Jimmer is. To be honest, its cute to see how much they really love each other. Their brotherly bond is really incredible. But also being honest, he is not the best rapper I have heard. Any way he was the half time show, told us to sing along to the songs we have never heard and had an assistant that ran out and yelled "HANDS UP PROOOVOOO" like 80 times!! It was awesome! All BYU fans know what I am talking about, and TJ is just apart of us.
The best part of the show was when we told one half to yell Jimmer and the other half to yell Jackson and if we yelled loud enough they would come out of the locker room (they were standing on the court the whole time which made it even better) Anyway he started this cheer and yelled Jimmer and then his buddy yelled "Fredette" instead of Jackson!! It was so hilarious. Eventually the crowd got it right and they came out!!
It was so much fun to watch Jackson and Jimmer play one more time in the Marriott Center because thats what we love. Ps the new floor with the stretch y is AWESOME!!!!

Quilt

This summer I finally finished my high school t-shirt quilt!! It was a lot of hard work, but I love how it turned out. I didn't cut all the pieces the same size which made my job just that much harder. I had to add so many strips onto pieces (which in turn meant unpicking a lot more things because I am not a very good seamstress like my mom) Anyway, I finished, I will never do another, but love the one I have!!

Work

About 1 month ago I was asked to give a talk in church about having Faith in the Lord and trusting in his timing and will instead of our own. I decided to use my jobless summer as an example of how I have learned to trust the Lord more because he knows whats best. I must have sounded woe-is-me, because after the talk I had about 12 people approach me with job opportunities, ideas, subbing options, and different names of teachers that they wanted me to meet. Needless to say, I left bad because I clearly gave my talk wrong, but I was very grateful because so many new doors were opening to me.
I started nannying for a family in the ward every Tuesday-Thursday. It pays ridiculously well, is super easy, and is around the corner so I do not have to drive. I am really grateful for the opportunity to earn some money AND have something to do all day. I have gotten to the point that I actually like free time again!! It is a weird feeling.
Along side that I have also started subbing and I LOVE IT!!!! I am so grateful that I do not have my own classroom (because I love the flexibility) but I love still being able to teach.
I most recently taught 7th grade English and it was like I died and went to heaven. For those of you who don't know, I considered English for a few years, I sorta wish I would have pursued it, because I love classroom teaching. We read stories, discussed them, I answered questions about papers etc. It was so much fun too because the teacher actually left me with things to do!! All in all, my experience was amazing and I have already set up more time with this specific teacher.
This work is not what I had planned at all, but I am so grateful for the source of money that I am making. I can sub every Mondays and Fridays and then help the family out Tuesday-Thursday. It is nice to also be able to still exercise and help family members when needed. Just wanted to let everyone know about the good news!!

Arizona

Over Labor day weekend, Ethan and I took a trip down to Phoenix AZ to visit his Aunt Kay. Ethan got his birthday off of work as well as labor day and so he took two more days and we had a 5 day vacation. It was the first vacation that we have taken together excluding Spokane trips, and my goodness did we have fun!! The weather was hot, but surprise... its Phoenix!!! Luckily there was a lot of cloud coverage so even though it was 105
we didnt have the sun beating on us and so it was completely bearable to be outside. Every morning we also woke up at 5 to exercise because we had to beat the heat of the sun.
The first day we went to the Phoenix Botanical Gardens and I got to see my first cactus (minus the 100s that we passed getting there). Afterwards we went home and vacationed!! We read, swam, ate really good food, and played Ethan's new game Dominion which he received for his birthday. We also went on a morning hike in the preserves, visited Aunt Kay's PT office, and went to a delicious Mexican dinner.
The second day we went on a 5:30 bike ride along the canal and went running on the tread mills in Aunt Kays office. Afterwards, the girls went and did girl things (aka Pedicures, shopping, lunch) and Ethan stayed and watched BYU beat Ole Miss. (don't worry... I was getting constant updates from multiple sources) That night we went to the movie The Help and got $1 large drinks and popcorn because Aunt Kay wore her movie t-shirt. Sweet hookups
On Sunday we got together with Ethan's friend Sean Vanhill and played 3 games of Dominion and had a tour of downtown Phoenix.
Monday morning we woke up at 5 and rode our bikes to Tempe and rode the train back. This was our favorite day because the ride was so beautiful. Tempe Town Lake was gorgeous, we found an oasis along the trail, and stopped at an amazing breakfast cafe. After we all got home swam, and took naps, Ethan and I then went to the Phoenix Art Museum followed by an ice cream sundae at a place called Mary Colldes. Their peppermint ice cream was to die for!!!
It was a great vacation and action packed. Phoenix was everything I expected/hoped. It was hot, sunny, and red. It is different than anywhere I have ever been but just as beautiful in its own way. I have never seen a prettier drive than getting to Phoenix. The red rocks are incredible and crossing the Colorado river was so much fun!! We tried to stop at the Grand Canyon but simply ran out of time.