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Picture Overload

I just realized I never posted picture from the 4th of July or Graduation. So here they are!

4th of July 2008

Watching the parade

The kiddos playing in the water

BBQ at our house

Matt, Livi and I huddled under a blanket so the mosquitoes don't eat away at our flesh.


Matt and Megan's Graduation- BYU April 2008

Graduation was fantastic! We had some good speakers and we had great family support. Matt received his joint Masters and Bachelors degrees and I walked right after him with my Nutritional Science degree. We then went out to dinner with the fams and celebrated!

(only at BYU would you find this many strollers:)

L to R Megan, Matt, Mom and Dad A., Katie

L to R Emmalee, Dad, Aaron, Mom, Megan, Matt, Kiersten, Chase, Devin

The happy couple :)

Oh precious, sisters

Look close, you can see Matty receiving his hard earned degrees! Yoohoo!

Yes I love technology....always and forever

OH man alive! This has been the best last week or so. Not only did I make contact with a ton of people I haven't seen in years, but now I have something to flee to when I don't want to do my homework! Truly the best of both worlds! I have finally joined Facebook or some may call it Wastebook. This is the coolest thing ever! I've waited to do it for so long because I wasn't sure if I wanted people being able to stalk me and stuff but now that I know that I can control who looks at my profile, I've ventured in. It is so fun catching up with people who have had an impact on my life at some point and seeing how they are. I love it! I think I have found my newest obsession, we'll see how long it lasts!

Happy 4th of July!

I just love the 4th of July! The heat, the food, the parade, I love it! Matt (happily) and I (grumpily) woke up at 7am this morning to go save spots on Center Street and there was hardly anywhere to place our blanket...and the parade didn't start til 9! Crazy Utahns. We went with the Dover Clan and the Militoni's and had a great time. Some of the highlights were as follows: 1) finding out that Olivia may be a band geek when she enters high school; every time a marching band came by she would get up and start stomping her feet just like the marchers, it was hilarious! GO BANDIES!, 2) seeing a float from the Institue of Religion basically encouraging everyone to get married; they substituted "temple" for "chapel" in the "Chapel of Love" song, it was quite adorable and funny, 3) also some guy was handing out fun, fake million dollar bills with anti-Mormon literature on the back (seriously how UNclassy is that), 4) and of course the best highlight was seeing all of the soldiers and veterans of war. I had to keep myself from tearing up. Those men and women are the reason we are able to be what we are today. Thank you to all those brave men and women out there past, present and future who serve our country so that we can have our independence. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Times a wastin

So I really should be studying right now, but I don't want to. I'm so burned out with school. Luckily I have a great professor who basically passes everyone, and that is all I need:) Who cares about physics anyways? As long as gravity is still intact I don't really care what else goes on (although floating around would be kinda fun). So I thought I'd do one of these tag things because I like talking about myself and it's my blog. Enjoy!

10 Years Ago: I was 13. I was in the midst of awkward middle school trying to adjust to bras and boys. I was also super fat. In Sunday school we had Stars Wars names and mine was...you guessed it... Jabba the Hutt. Surprisingly I came out of it fairly normal. I also liked to wear monochromatic clothes. I guess you could say I was the epitome of awkward. Moving on...

5 Things on my to-do list today:
1. Workout
2. Take a Shower
3. Study (I don't think this is going to get done)
4. Go to Costco
5. Spend time with schmoopy

5 Places I have lived:
1. Mesa, AZ
2. Afton, WY
3. Dublin, OH
4. Sammamish, WA
5. Provo, UT and soon Humble, TX (the "H" silent, because we Texans don't like to sound cocky)

5 jobs that I have had:
1. Fazoli's (Haven't eaten there since)
2. SuperCuts
3. Taylor Maid (disgusting)
4. Sally's Beauty Supply
5. Busy Student

What I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire: I'm pretty sure Matt and I talk about this at least once a month. Pay everything we own off. Put some moolah in our unborn childrens' bank accounts. Get a housemaid so I never have to clean again. Give a ton to various charities. Give anonymous donations to those who are in need. And of course I want to buy like every pair of cute designer heels and jeans on the planet (I'm not joking).

5 Things people don't know about me:
1. I love chemistry, I know very weird considering I used to hate it. I think BYU brainwashed me and put something in the water.
2. I wet the bed til I was 8. (Hey I have a small bladder and I'm a deep sleeper, don't be hatin)
3. I cannot go to bed or start my day without washing my face first. It's a severe habit that I'm hoping will make me look way hot when I'm 40.
4. I can totally handle seeing a couple of gay guys together, but seeing girls reeeally weirds me out. I guess you could say I'm part homophobic.
5. ???

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday! He is 27!! And today is the 27th. Pretty kewl. I can't believe he is almost 30, he is such a kid and loves life. He is the most amazing person I know! I love you Matt you're the best! P.S. We just closed on our house today! Talk about a great birthday present! Oh and here are a smattering of pictures that just make me laugh.

The orange abominable snowman

Matt, you will always be #1 in my eyes! (Even though I know you are gonna kick trash with this year's FF league:)

My old blue eyes

I don't know what to say about his picture. But I think he looks handsome in it (Matt not the cat)

1,2,3,4 we don't want your super store...

Name that movie? Anyways, in all my years at BYU I have never and I repeat NEVER been able to sell all of my books back. That being said, I just got back from book buyback and they rejected every single one of my books! I got nothing, nada! Boy was I ticked, I mean one of my books was brand new and I got to the bookstore on the first day! So right now I am walking around campus with oh about $400 dollars worth of textbooks. And they aren't little, they are humungous! So now, not only is my wallet empty but now my back hurts from carrying all these dumb books around. I swear the whole textbook buyback thing is a conspiracy. What kind of conspiracy I have no idea, but I swear it is one! Sooooo if anyone out there who reads this and has a husband or wife or friend who needs these books I am willing to give you a super good deal on them! Although I am incredibly sad to part with these books (sarcasm) I am willing to give them a new home.

-For CHEM 351 and 352 Organic Chemistry 6th edition book PLUS student solutions manual

-For BIO 240 Essential Genes

-For CHEM 481- Principles of Biochemistry 4th edition

Words to Live By

Best thing I've heard all day.

The point is: we all get to measure our own lives. . . but we shouldn’t be measuring success and happiness against other people or the version of other people they show the world. The best litmus test for personal success is to measure ourselves against our own dreams and desires. The way I see it, life is not a contest. If we live it that way, the only person we’re disappointing is ourselves.

Summer Movies

I just love summer. There are always so many great movies comingvout. For instance, "Ironman". We saw that last weekend and it was amazing, and oh boy Robert Downey Jr. is my new favorite actor. I haven't seen him on screen since "Only You" came out. And we just saw Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. That was a great movie. Such good action sequences and CGI's. I just love sitting in those comfy seats and smuggling in dinner in my ginormous hair bag. It's the perfect way for me to unwind and chill. Nothing like stuffing my face and sitting on my butt for 2 hours. Ahh the joys of summer.

The Sweet Smell of Success!

I just got a 100% on a Biochemistry test! Can you believe it, I haven't gotten a 100 on a test since...well...hmmm... I don't think I've ever gotten a 100% in college. That being said I am so stoked! Now I just have to make sure and not let it go to my head so I don't get all cocky and think I don't need to study for my other tests:)

Looking for a great house in Utah??

Visit this site http://victorianhomeforsale.blogspot.com/. There is an open house this week that you all should go to and tell your friends. It is fabulous!

New Home Tour

Here is a link to some pictures that Megan took of the house:
http://www.circlepix.com/home/SSTCLY

WOW! BUSY BUSY BUSY....AND LOVIN IT!

We have been on the go the last couple of weeks. First we finished up finals. Then we had a great couple of days with both of our families during graduation (which by the way, if any family members have pictures of that day can you please send them to us, thanks!), I (Megan) started up spring term the following Monday (Blah, I am so sick of school). Next, Matt and I headed out on Thursday to do some house hunting in Houston, TX. On Friday we looked at soooo many homes and found like 5 we would be happy with. Then Saturday we looked at some more homes and the first one we looked at on that day hit a chord with both of us and we new it was the right one for us. But just to make sure, we went ahead and looked at several more that day, slept on it and went over all the pros and cons. And TODAY WE SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR THE HOUSE!!!! We are absolutely thrilled about it. The location is great-Humble: Eagle Springs Subdivision, our neighbors are super friendly; Bill and his Latina wife- who by the way is a Harris County sheriff, and we got to catch a of glimpse of our new ward- LOTS of kids. We got a killer deal on the home through a builder's list of inventory homes. It's quite a lot bigger then we planned on getting, but we plan on filling it up with little ones in the next 5-10 years. WOW! What an experience, we have been so blessed. I didn't think it was going to be so difficult to decide, but it is a very mind boggling process. But we enjoyed it a lot. Now I'm going to snuggle up with handsome husband and think about where the heck I'm going to put our furniture and how to decorate! P.S. I think Matt plans on posting a virtual tour, so we can document our very first dive into homeownership!

Feeling Grateful

Today I woke up with feeling incredibly grateful so I thought I'd jot down my feelings while they are still fresh.

Today I am grateful for:

-Receiving such a great education
-Having a husband that encourages me to get an education
-Jesus Christ
-Matt already has a job secured, we are sooo blessed (Texas here we come!)
-Having such supportive families
-Parents
-Matt will be done with school(Masters and Bachelors, wow) for the rest of his life...in 3 days!!!
-Sleep

Blah and then some

I'm running on 4 hours of sleep and I just took the hardest test I've ever had...in my whole life. I'm gonna go lay down on the ground now... and puke. 2 finals down and 3 more to go AND ONLY 6 MORE DAYS TIL GRADUATION!!

COUNTING DOWN

ONLY 16 DAYS TIL GRADUATION!!!!

Organic or bust

So what's the deal with all the hype over organic foods? I really don't get it. First, animals (such as cows) have completely different digestive properties then humans, meaning that just because a cow has bovine (and the meaning of bovine is basically the category for the cattle family) growth hormone or whatever doesn't mean our bodies react to it. That being said, imagine if we as humans could actually absorb and process bovine growth hormone...we would be HUGE! duh. And why are people so concerned about their veggies and fruits? Just wash your food before you eat it! Or how about you start your own garden and save yourself a buttload of money. Honestly I think the whole organic thing is just a ploy to rip people off. Those are my thoughts on the organic conspiracy, sorry if I offend anyone, but this is my way of letting go of my little "tiffs" in life. And quite frankly until someone gives me some good, solid evidence from numerous studies advocating organicness (I don't think that's a word, but I kinda like it), I'm not gonna do it. Take it or leave it.

To a long, lost love

Dear Planner,

You were brutally kidnapped from me a week ago today. I've looked everywhere for you and have even dispatched a search party to find you, but alas you are still missing. I miss your butter yellow cover and the way you provide enough room for me to write all my activities in, without squishing the letters together. I miss you taking up room in the front pocket of my backpack. It is very lonely without you. I miss you...COME BACK! And to the hoser who abducted my beautiful planner and hasn't turned it in yet...GIVE IT BACK!(what a jerkface... honestly...who steals a planner, with my name in it too! grrr)

Truly yours, your kindred spirit,
Megan

Spring "Training"

Many of you know I am Nutritional Science major. And generally I don't really tell people the truth or give advice to people about their nutrition beliefs unless asked because for most people it is a sensitive topic. But as the "dreadful" swimsuit season draws closer and closer I have witnessed a number of people going on this diet or that and spending ridiculous amounts of money on the "next weight loss break through". People have been asking me all sorts of questions about how many carbs or sugar I should eat and blah blah blah. I found this entertaining article that will answer many people's questions. I thought it added some new insights into the nations obsession with weight loss. You don't have to read it if you don't want to, but I wanted to record it because I think it's very interesting. Goodnight!

Living in Fat City

If you live in Australia, the US, the UK, Canada or New Zealand, then you live in the same place as me; Fat City. Fat City of course, being more of a collective mindset, and a culture of eating too much and moving too little, than any geographical location, or ‘literal’ place. And while it’s not a literal place, it is very real. If you know what I mean.

The weight of the average Australian increases by about 0.4kg (1lb) per year, every year, and it’s a pretty similar figure in most Western countries. It’s predicted that Australia (where I live) will be a totally obese population by 2050. There’s a thought. What an achievement. This is the forecast, despite the fact that we are now more educated, more informed and more aware, than we’ve ever been before. The truth is, in 2008 we are constantly bombarded with more and more information and education about diet, lifestyle, exercise, obesity, general health and all its variables, yet still, we grow.

As an Exercise Scientist, observer of humanity, and ex-fat bloke, there are plenty of things which fascinate me about living in Fat City (the culture, the habits, the behaviors, the thinking, the excuses, the lies, the marketing, the trends, the media), but here’s my short list:

1. We’ve never be more informed, educated, resourced or equipped to combat obesity, yet we’ve never been fatter. We live in the information age, yet we do nothing with it. I’m amused by those who suggest that obesity is primarily an education problem, when in reality, it is (for the majority) a self-control problem. Self control: yes, that crazy, outdated notion I’ve spoken of many times before. We are inundated with education but we choose not to learn. Real ‘learning’ would have resulted in a large-scale positive change in behavior, and of course, decline in obesity levels. It hasn’t. In fact, if there was a positive correlation between the increase in education and the decline of global obesity, then we would see virtually no obesity at all. But… if we wanted to be cheeky and use ’selective science’ (as many ‘experts’ do), we could actually conclude that the increase in education may have resulted in the increase in obesity. After all, there is a direct relationship: more education, more obesity. Yes I’m being sarcastic, but you understand my point. When it comes to diet and exercise, we know what to do, but we don’t do what we know.

2. I am constantly amazed at our ability (as a society) to complicate the simple. How many more books, programs and breakthrough weight-loss discoveries do we need? Really? Here’s a wacky concept, increase energy expenditure (exercise, general activity) and decrease energy intake (stop eating so much crap). A little scientific I know, but hey, it just might work. Of course it’s simple, but it requires genuine and consistent effort. Simple, of course, not to be confused with ‘easy’. And therein lies the problem. Which leads me to point three.

3. Our obsession with the quick fix. We don’t wanna work for those results. We want someone or something to do it for us. We are precious and lazy. We are addicted to the shortcut. Give me the pill, powder, potion, product or surgeon that will make me beautiful. I am allergic to sweat and hard work it’s so ‘1985′. We are a culture obsessed with ‘easy’ and sometimes creating amazing requires a little effort. Or a lot. And we hate that. Sorry about that. I’ll try and change it.

4. We love playing the ‘blame game’. We would rather justify, rationalize, explain and blame someone or something for our obesity, than take complete responsibility for our fat selves. Of course it’s not our fault. We are poor victims of situations, circumstances and genetics. So not fair. If what we do to our body (lifestyle, food, exercise) is the biggest influence on our level of fitness and fatness (which it is), then obesity is typically the result of poor decision making, rather than poor genetics. Even people with poor genetics can get in great shape, if they work with their genetics and manipulate the variables the right way.

5. I laugh when people get grumpy at me for telling the truth; what they don’t want to hear.“Okay John, it will only take two weeks to lose that hundred pounds and that huge gut you built over the last thirty years, and yes, it will be easy, fun and painless. You will definitely look incredible by next Tuesday. Wednesday, tops. In fact, just leave your body here; I’ll do it for you.”

6. I marvel that people pay thousands of dollars per year to walk/run on a treadmill with a built in TV, radio and fan, when they could get the same physiological benefit (or better) heading out their front door and returning thirty minutes later. No driving to the gym, no petrol costs, no waiting for machines, no travel time.

7. Our inability to finish things. We start jogging. We stop. We go on a diet. We go off it. We join a gym. We go five times. We make resolutions. We don’t follow through. We lose fat. We regain it. We start. We stop. We get fit. We get unfit. We operate on emotion. We always find a ‘reason’ to give up. We experience momentary motivation, but we never truly commit. Real commitment (”I will do this no matter what”) creates life-long change, not temporary weight loss or occasional fitness. We’re great at starting, crap at finishing.

8. The Victim. “But you don’t understand my life, body, time restraints, problems, situation, history, challenges, injuries, medical conditions.” Your problem isn’t your body; it’s your thinking. Get your mind in shape and your body will follow.

Great Weekend... Even better Monday

This weekend was so great! First, I took a killer test on Saturday, while I was doing this my sweetiepie cleaned the whole house! Now that's my kind of hubby;) I was then comatose for about 3 hours after my test, recuperating from the 3 hours spend in the testing center. Then guess what..you'll never guess.....WE GOT A Wii!!!!!!!!!! It is so dang fun!! Matt sold his old, piece of junk computer on ebay and got a nice chunk of cash out of it. I told him if he sold it he could spend it on a Wii. Mind you this was after much disputing about what to do with the dough(i.e. pay off more loans, put in savings, etc.) But after seeing how much Matt plays this thing I have no regrets. I think he has gotten more exercise in the past 2 days then he has in the past 2 years!!! I say he can play this thing as much he wants!! And the best way to make our lives healthier is to move more.
Then on Sunday my V.T. and our home teachers came over. Don't you just love visiting teachers and home teachers? You ALWAYS feel good after they come to visit. Then we played more Wii on Sunday and Today(Monday) after class and work, we hit the glorious Costco. Then went out for delish sushi...where I proceeded to gross Matt out by eating the "real" kind of sushi. Then we picked up a couple of things from Albertson's. Then for FHE treat we went to Pudding on the Rice. OH MY GOSH THIS PLACE IS GOOD!! They have all these types of rice pudding flavors, and I usually hate rice pudding, but this stuff was amazing! I got the Bittersweet Symphony mmmmmmyum. Then we came home and organized our fridge and cabinets to make room for the obscene amounts of food we bought, it should last us until the end of the semester, that's how much food we bought. And now I'm gonna do homework. Oh it was a great last couple of days. Oh and I've been looking at houses online and noticed that the Northeast Area of Houston has a large supply of foreclosures. So I was wondering if anybody has any good advice about buying or not buying a foreclosed house. Please comment!
And here are some really funny videos that I was rolling over! How cute is this Oriental kid and gotta love the song he's singing! The Visiting Teaching one is sooo true, but makes you want to be a better visiting teacher.