Cavemen Rock!

I had the ultimate priviledge of attending Cavestock 2008 last night at American Fork High School. It was so fun! Let me explain the name and then I will explain the party. The mascot for AFHS is the Caveman. Initially I was a bit hesitant but it is growing on me. My Elementary school was the All-Stars so really, who's to judge? From what I gather, they combine Caveman with Woodstock and end up with Cavestock. Love it.

The party was to celebrate the end of the school year. What an awesome celebration is was. When we got there it was pretty casual, the dance portion had not yet started. This is what happened pre-dance:

BEAUTY - a hair school was doing colored extensions, there was face painting, someone was making ballon hats
GUITAR HERO - they set up 3 stations and had a competition. I am now convinced that I am actually 67. You know when you talk to adults about texting? They look at you like you are speaking Arabic. That is how I feel about Guitar Hero, I can't even wrap my head around how they can play that game...and I'm an interpreter! I should rock! (Should)
FAMILY WARD GAMES - there was a football throw (you know, through a tire hanging from the basketball hoop) and a fishing pond! Do you remember helping out at the Ward Halloween party and being assigned to the dreaded fish pond? The kid throws the fishing line over the sheet and you attach a tootsie roll. Right.
EATING CONTESTS - this was truly amazing. We only saw two of them but it was the coolest! The first was a hot dog eating contest. It wasn't timed, it was whoever ate their plate of 6 first would win. Sick. I bet on a pretty solid looking kid to win but he totally let me down. The next contest and probably the highlight of the night was the milk drinking contest. The first person to down 6 pints of milk won. Pretty simple, right? Well if you have never seen a milk drinking contest I can tell you this, it always ends in puking. The organizers were awesome enough to include strawberry milk, the typically forgotten variety. I was almost convinced to join but I was drinking a soda and I thought the combination of soda and 6 pints of milk might not agree with my stomach. The real reason is that I am a weiner and would have thrown up for sure. The bet for this contest was to pick the first person to puke. Once again, I thought I had it in the bag! My pick totally disappointed me, I feel like he wasn't even trying. Now the winner on the other hand.....lost it in the trash can almost immediately after claiming his victory. Twice. It was pink. Thanks strawberry milk.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS - I was super impressed by the talent last night. There was a group of teachers that played classic rock and MC'd in between acts. They were so cool, I love this school. I was thinking that if my school had had an end of the year party there would definitely NOT have been enough musical talent for a Battle of the Bands or even Battle of the Band. I think they probably could have thrown together a skate competition though.

Dance Time - the dance portion started at 9pm and it was truly a spectacle. I was worried that I was going to have to intervene and politely ask sweaty students to move further apart as they dance, but NO! I am so impressed by the students at AFHS. I didn't see any inappropriate dancing, etc. The worst part...I knew a lot of the songs, but not all. What the? I'm still young and semi hip, dang it. Another reason to feel 67.

On to the absolute best part of the night. I have the best, most amazing, sweetest and coolest students on Earth. All night they were running up to me all excited and happy to see me. I felt so special! I didn't think it was possible for them to love me like I love them! I want to meet all their parents and congratulate them on a job well done.

Thanks American Fork!!!!

Pride and Prejudice

I watched that movie tonight (the Keira Knightley version) and I always forget how much I LOVE it. Dang, I am such a girl! At the end I teared up when she's explaining why she loves Mr. Darcy. The reason I tear up? Her dad's eyes get shiny because he's happy and trying not to cry! It's such a sweet moment, my dad loves me that much too (although I've never afforded him the opportunity to have shiny eyes in regards to my love life). There are really good dresses in that movie too!

I actually rented the movie "27 Dresses" and was going to watch it with some lady friends but we turned on the TV and "Pride and Prejudice" was on so we did a quick change of plans. Yeah, "27 Dresses". I'm not sure what the estrogen is all about. At least I didn't eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's all by myself. My snack of choice during the film was string cheese and some corn.....serious. I don't know so don't ask.

Love you! Have a fabulous week!

Something to Pass Along

My friend introduced me to an awesome website, hulu.com, where you can watch episodes of TV that you may have missed or whatev. I have recently been watching old SNL skits, love it! I highly recommend searching for "SNL Steve Carrell", "SNL Two A-Holes" and "SNL Penelope". Amazing! By the way, I think I totally have a girl crush on Kristen Whig, she's the girl in the 2 A-Holes skits and Penelope, she's incredible. Since it's raining here in beautiful Utah Valley, I think I'l be playing on Hulu all weekend!

Something that NEEDS Checking Out

My dear friend, Susan, is an incredible artist. We met at school when I interpreted for a class she was taking. She loved trying to "trip up" the interpreters by saying crazy things and trying to get us to laugh as we were doing our thing. (We normally hate people like that, but it's impossible to hate Susan). I didn't interpret any of the classes she was in during the Spring semester yet we just kept running into each other. Basically, she's now my greatest fan...or the other way around. She showed me a bunch of her paintings and they are AMAZING! When I get rich (sooner than you think), I will be commissioning her to make my bare walls beautiful. She recently set up a blog to promote her art and she has a few of her pieces up for everyone's viewing pleasure, so CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!
susanpurdy-art.blogspot.com

I'm So Brave

Here's the deal, I don't like motorcycles. My dad had one when I was younger and sometimes would take me to volleyball practice on it (driving on the freeway in San Diego, mind you). I always hated it, it was cold and I expected to either fall off or be side swiped by some drunk SDSU student. Luckily nothing like that ever happened but I still have always carried a dislike of motorcycles with me. I think they are dangerous too!

But Rachel, what about the Barbie on the scooter in the picture? Good question. Here's the deal, it seems as though scooters are "the big thing" around good ole Utah County, I see them everywhere! I always look at them and think, "how cute!!" but not for me. My roommate, Eliza, has one and she looks DARLING on it. I like to look darling too, but not at the risk of being drunkenly side swiped. She and I have discussed my phobia(?) and she has been great about not pushing me to ride with her.

So here's the deal and the reason that "I'm So Brave". Eliza and I have a class together every Tuesday and Thursday morning and this morning we were running a bit late AND it was gorgeous outside. She mentioned that she'd like to ride her scooter and offered me a ride. I did it! We rode to school on her scooter and it was tons of fun! By the way, I was in a skirt (sorry mom and dad) and we both looked super cute. I know this because we got some honks and waves...hey boys!

I think I'll have to start a new spot in my budget for a scooter! I'm going to tear up Utah Valley next summer!

Good Way to Start the Week

I saw this picture on line today and I knew. I knew that I had to share it with the world. I mean, how selfish would I be to keep this gem to myself? You are welcome by the way. Meghan, this really is for you. I know about the Carrot Top love binder you keep under your bed, filled with pictures and press clippings of your man. So today, I honor your love. I love you sissy!

My Brother Is Amazing!

My little brother, Taylor Sawyer Johnson, placed 5th in state today for the 300 meter hurdles! 5thi in the whole state of Utah! I am so proud. Amazing, right?!? It was so fun to go sit and watch him run today. We had to sit through a lot of other people running, jumping and throwing but it was fun because the whole fam was there. Speaking of throwing...some member of the press got hit by a javelin. Wrong place, wrong time. Ha!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom is nuts. Serious. She doesn't allow us to celebrate Mother's Day because she says that if you love your mom you should show her throughout the year, not just on the second Sunday of May. I agree, but I have to say that when I have kids, I'm SOOOOO going to take adcantage of this "holiday". We are not allowed to give her gifts or anything, I think she'll allow a phone call but I don't know for sure because as of today at 6:40 I haven't called. Ooops. Anyway, I wanted to use this post as a way to let moms know that I appreciate and love them.

I am lucky enough to have known a lot of lovely ladies who over the years have gotten married and are now mothers. I am lucky to know dear ladies like Tira, Shanna, Kristy, Nicki and Amanda. They are all amazing women in their own right and have really come into their own since motherhood. I am so impressed by their power, courage, ability to teach and even greater ability to love. I learn from these ladies about motherhood and womanhood and I love them all very much!

Now, on to the main event! I have the most incredible mom ever placed on this Earth, I hope this dedication doesn't make any of you jealous :) She has taught me to love our Heavenly Father and Savior and this testimony is the most valuable thing I have. My mom, Rosie Johnson, taught me to be independent and strong. I owe my success in life to her. She came to almost every single softball and volleyball game I played. If she couldn't make it, it was because of a conflict with another sibling, never beause she was too tired from a busy day. She also adopted the other girls on the team whose parents never came. I was never jealous, I learned at a young age that my mother's love was meant to be shared. When I was little I don't remember my mom being funny, she was just a mom. Now, she's hilarious (I think I've rubbed off on her) and she's my best friend. I could go on and on, but I need to call her and tell her all this...I don't think she reads my blog :) HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!