A Tale of Two Childs

So Valentines day is a day that brings varied emotions to many. I kind of enjoy it. Caleb does something for me each year. Guys are kind of expected to, I usually try to do a little something to express to him what he means to me... I think it is only fair since he is socially (and lets admit it... Spousally) pressured to do so. This year I made him a candy gram.


We both had to work, and he had school that night, so we did not get to spend time together til after 7, when he got out of class. I grilled some steaks and made baked potatoes- so dinner was ready for him when he got home. Then he went to do some homework, and I had to wait for what he got me! I am not patient.

He came upstairs at about 9pm and gave me an envelope from his pocket... he wrote me a letter and in it he explained he was asking me on a date to go see the Utah Symphony's presentation of "Wicked Diva's" which was the symphony and 2 singers presenting a collection of Broadway songs, including 3 from the musical Wicked. The letter was short and sweet and in Caleb fashion. Few words, packed with meaning. The note would have been enough, the date was just icing on the cake.

We went on the date on Thursday Night. The singers had both played Elphaba on broadway, and were both phenomenal performers, yet so different with their strengths. I loved it! The picture is of us at the theater, taken from my phone from a person who looked like they had never functioned a camera phone... this is the best one we got! I am so grateful to Caleb for taking me. Good night, good date. Great Man.

I have had a LOT of firsts the past few weeks. First time on the radio, first time in a recording studio, first time on the news and first time on a promotional video... and it has been a blast!

The picture of me and a microphone me in the studio for the Radio interview. I am representing my company on the Winterfest Committee for Ogden City and they asked me to come and do a Community Calendar segment for FM 100 and 103.5 and talk about my companies involvement. We sponsored the Home Depot kids corner where they made little tool kits and the Polar Bear Swim. I was nervous but so excited. I think my favorite advice was to "act like it is a normal conversation"... I think I may have known that. Thanks to Amy- the PR person, and Kevin the organizer for asking me to come!

Then we were asked to record one of our songs from the Halloween show I was in for a promotional video. We recorded in a studio at the Salt Lake Art Institute. They cut out the last half of our song, cause turns out, my high notes were flat... a little ouch to the ego, but I never claimed to be a soprano, and an exciting opportunity. Though they ran extremely late! I got home at 12a that morning.

THEN, we got called to provide some costumes for Friday Morning shots with 2 News and Casey in the morning (the same Casey that Chunga and Mister blew up all those years ago on 107.5 the end... glad his career has gone well for him), I had a cheesy grin the entire time. (that is the picture of me at the top- the first one is Kevin with Me, Casey, Kevin with Ogden City and Pete, then Me, Amy the PR rep and Emily from ABC 4, and then just me and Emily in the Kiss Costume) Following that, I was on ABC 4 with Emily. I was a Jolly Rancher, and a guy I work with, Pete, was a Hershey Kiss, they made him ski behind a horse, I just had to talk and grin cheesily, two things I do BEST, so I got off easy!! It was a blast!





Today, we finished filming for the song we sang on Monday in the studio, and it was a wrap. Everything ran smoothly- we got there and were interviewed, then we filmed the opening part of our first song from the show (the cauldron song) and they sent us home.

This was a week of many Media firsts for me, and I loved every minute of it.

In addition, we ran the second annual polar bear swim on Saturday, we had 92 participants, (92 crazy people willing to jump into 38 degree water) and I need an adapter to play music on our PA system, but I just put the microphone to my phone and it worked! Each participant got a free souvenir, then people had the chance to dive for prizes, we gave out hot chocolate and mugs and candy.

It has been a hugely CHAOTIC week, especially while trying to maintain my health challenge, but I had a great time. It is now Saturday night, time to relax and enjoy time with Handsome Caleb.

On Wednesday I weighed in for the Gold's Gym 2011 Fitness Challenge. I would have posted pictures to accompany the event and make this more interesting, however, since the pictures they take are in your skibbies, I did not want to make the blog post horrifying.

It started on Monday the 19th, and ends April the 11th. 82 Days. I have decided to exercise to burn 700 calories, 6 days a week, and decrease my caloric intake to 1600 calories. I have also eliminated sweets from my diet for those 82 days. Phew, 5 days down. It has been a challenge.. Saturday morning after 4 straight days of my 700 calories burned workouts, My body had about had it with me, but I am pleased to say that my Sabbath "day of rest" has suited me lovely, and I am excited to return early Monday morning.

Once the competition is over, I will begin easily back to sugars, but I will introduce a new concept "moderation" which I have had issues with since I started working at the Hershey Distribution center!

If you win the competition you get a free gym membership for a year, that in itself would be worth it. Wish my luck as I set off to make a HUGE change!

So we were asked if we had kids this week, Caleb mentioned that our cat is our child right now, I know it is silly, but Hammy is our little buddy.

So we had a bag of catnip that Hammy tore up, so I placed it in a zip lock bag and into a drawer, so Hammy would not get into it and make a mess. Caleb was looking for something in that drawer, and placed the catnip bag on the kitchen counter. We came downstairs this morning, and it was all over the kitchen, he tore up the whole bag, rolled in it, played in it for who knows how long. He was happy as a little clam with his catnip. I have attached a photo, it does not give him justice, you can see the specs of it all over his body, and the small spots on my floor, every inch of the kitchen had been catnipped. I suppose you can learn a couple of lessons, 1: Where there is a will, there is a way, and most often a mess, and 2: That is what we get for sleeping in on a Saturday morning and locking him out of my room! Cute Hammy.

1: Both of us continued working full time. Rachel for GENCO (Office work), Caleb for RMC Inc. (Construction)
2: We still live in Clinton, UT in our cute home.
3: Caleb spent the year in school working toward his BA degree (he is SO busy)
4: We have had our Kitty, Hampton (Hammy) for two years, he adds a bit of chaos to our lives.
5: We went to St. George with the Child Family in June- it was a nice break.
6: We had the chance to go to California and Disneyland with Rachel’s Brother & Family in May
7: Rachel performed in a Dinner Theater for Halloween, for the first time in 5 years!
8: Caleb had surgery to fuse his interphalangeal (yes that is a word, and I spelled it right) thumb joint, this means his left thumb no longer bends in the middle. This is the result of a complication from a work injury last year.
9: Rachel joined a community choir to fill time while Caleb is busy with school.
10: We were on a family softball team this year and we won the Fall Championship.

The Top 10 Reasons Wacky Witches was a Blast

10: We gonna Light it Up like its Dynamite
9: Alisha and her gentle kind way of correction. . . "that was good, I liked it, but try it this way..."
8: Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba (hmmmmm)
7: Who was the killer : the priest, how was it done: Talked to death
6: Blah-oh!



5: I did it! I did it! (accompanied by some crazy dance)
4: What are you doing in my room, but I'm not scared
3: Turn down the lights & The sound! ! ! Til the financier's get here, then turn them back up again...
2: STICKY BALL! ! !
1: Finally, this blog is brought to you by the letter H and the word Preparation...



I decided to audition for a show for the first time in 5 years. I CHOKED at my audition. Luckily for me, the director knew I could perform better than a mousy off key song and gave me a chance anyway. Truly theater and acting make me come alive, it just takes so much TIME. By the end of the run I was so desperate for a weekend with Caleb, but it was so hard to see the show end. I had so much fun with my character and with the friends I made in the show. Thank you all for such a wonderful time and for all of my family and friends who came to support me. I really had the time of my life, and I am so grateful to Caleb (my Caleb)who put up with a scatter brained wife (well... more so than usual) and a messy house for 6 weeks and not seeing each other for more than 30 minute stretches. Thanks to Alisha and the Hunts for taking a chance on me, I hope it was worth it.

This show was so fun, Sharing dinner snacks with Casey, having to Kiss Morgan's hubby. . . (sorry friend) when Caleb lost his tooth, my unexplained bloody nose... Adventures with the Prime minister...throwing around the sticky ball, GLITTER!, awkward mingling, asking to keep my wand, food from Boccia's for packing the house every night, chocolate, crowded blocking and choreography at Alisha's house, the list goes on! What a wonderful experience. Thanks friends! I hope to keep in touch!