Shake It Don't Break It

Cynthia and I like to say this to Tehani anytime she is supposed to hula. So yes, these were the words of motherly advice I gave before her dance recital a few weeks ago...

Tehani started with a new teacher a few months back and she loves, Loves, LOVES it. I love the fact that she is learning about her Tahitian culture (specifically from someone else that actually knows how to dance--meaning not me.) I also love that she will now have some new dances to do at my parent's next luau (no offense Tehani, but I was getting a wee tired of the poi ball routine every year :)

So if you are interested in improving your Tahitian dancing skills (and who isn't these days?) be sure to check these guys out.

Welcome Back

...to Blog Land! Oh how I've missed my blogging friends (OK, I realize that my mom, dad and sister are the only three people that actually read this thing. But hey, you got to start somewhere :)

Lest anyone think I've been off on a vacay or something fun like that, let me just start by saying that I thought this past semester in school was going to be the death of me! (Though I did manage to sneak in a work trip to France and visit to Chicago since the semester started) I will so be enjoying the two week break of NO CLASSES! And, once school starts back up I have just 32 nights of class until I leave for my Foreign Business Excursion (I know, I counted.) I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel (it's a long tunnel, yes, but the important thing is THE END IS NEAR!

Now that I actually have time to blog, let's hope that lots of fun and exciting things happen in my life so I have things to post about. In the meantime, here are some recent photos of me and the fam (I know it's been soo long that most of you have probably forgotten what we look like) Thanks to my sis for taking these (back in October :) for our 2010 Christmas card. If you didn't get yours yet, your card is "in the mail" (Just send me your address :)

We've Moved

Ok, technically I guess "I've moved" would be a more appropriate title. No, I haven't left my family to run off and join the circus. We finally moved into our new building at work! I'll admit that the whole moving thing has made my life even crazier than normal--This was a good reminder of why I never want to move again!

Then there was the fact that campus was shut down last week right before Thanksgiving for the Blizzard of 2010 (which never arrived, just in case you were wondering :) Anyway, here are some pics that I borrowed from a recent Deseret News article about our new diggs...

And just in case you're wondering whats MY favorite thing about the new building? I have a window. OK, windows to be exact. One whole wall of them. Here's a pic of me hard at work....

Another year older and wiser too...

Happy Birthday to the craziest lady I know!! I was feeling kind of sad that I'm not in Chicago to properly celebrate my mom's birthday, but never fear...I just found out today that my parents are coming out for a visit. Like tomorrow. They'll be driving cross country with a van FULL of unwanted stuff from their house. (Most people take their unwanted item to the Salvation Army, my parents bring the junk to me!!)

And people sometimes wonder why we call her Crazy J?!?

The Tribe Has Spoken: Happy Birthday Raymond

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get "voted off the island" for this one (either that, or my brother is going to arrest me the next time I'm back in Chicago)

I didn't want to let today go by without loading up the most embarrassing picture I could find to wish my brother a very Happy Birthday!! (Embarassing pictures are plentiful when you're the baby in the family :) And who knew you looked so good in a loin cloth?


Anyway, Happy Birthday from my tribe to you!