Easter

Easter Weekend! All of the grandkids had an Easter Egg Hunt over at the Hoopes house before the Family BBQ. It is always fun to get the family together! I love living so close to my family! They are the best! Rushton, Paige, & Ethan hunting for eggs! I was walking around helping Miss Paige and it was cute--she really wanted the pink ones! The older kids got as much as they could, and well, little Ethan only needed one (he is holding it like his own little football). :)

Graduation

Just to let everyone know-- I am walking on May 2nd to receive my Masters Degree! It has been two years of hard hard work, but I appreciate all of the support and love from everyone! It will be nice to take up a few of my hobbies again and to see my friends more often! :) I still have a class this summer so I will be officially done by the end of June! Yeah!

March Update

Wow it has been a busy busy month- and it flew by fast! Here are a few updates! My brother Jeff married Lexie White on March 14th. They are such a cute couple! So we had all of the wedding adventures and family gatherings! Then Spring Break was the next week, I had a few papers to finish for my Masters homework and then from Wednesday to Saturday that week a small group of my friends went down to San Diego to play! It was so nice to play and relax for a few days. We played frisbee and football on the beach and just enjoyed sunny California. Last weekend my brother Jeff's band, City of Ashburn, opened at Tuachan for the band "Boys like Girls". Me and my roommates and a few friends decided to go and enjoy something fun! And I have loved conference weekend this weekend- some good times with family and friends and listening to the prophet! As you can see it as been a fun filled month! Work is going great- my class is so cute! I can't believe this school year is almost over! Time flies too fast! One of my cute students brought me a bag of 4 strawberries all cut up and ready to eat. His mom said he washed and cut them all by himself and he wanted to bring them to school because they are Miss Gardner's favorite! How thoughtful! :) I just look around at all aspects of my life and I am blessed in so many ways! I'm so thankful for all of the amazing people in my life!

The Boys like Girls Concert- I was just introduced to their music a few weeks ago- but I really like it! Jeff's band did awesome too!

The whole gang: Kason, Chase, Kelsey, Kristin, Deon, Scott, and Me

Silly Roomies!
Crazy friends! We have so much fun together!
This picture below reminds me of all the crazy nights at our apartment- for some odd reason when 11:00pm hits- it is a whole new world at our house! The fun/crazy house! :)

Kelsey, Kristin, Deon, & Charise

Our trip to San Diego was a blast! We stayed in Oceanside and played on the beach, ate good food, relaxed, played sports, and enjoyed the hot tub! :)

Adam, Me, Jen, Deon, & Ashley (nice legs!)

Me & Dee on the beach!

Jamba Juice! I can't live without my smoothies! :)
Charise, Adam, & Scott
We stopped to see the temple- some of our friends had never seen it before! It is so beautiful!

The whole gang!

These are just some fun snap shots from the wedding. Julie has some other pictures that Alisha took from all of the festivities! Julie planned everything, and the whole family helped! Alisha did their announcments and photography. Angie Hoopes did thier amazing cake! Pretty much it was a family affair! :)

Julie had this great idea to do this with the chandelier! It turned out gorgeous!

Lexie and Baby Ethan

The Bride and Groom- These were big canvas pictures up on the wall!

Coming out of the temple!

All of the sisters! C-Reese, S-Reese, Alisha, Julie, & Andee

Made My Day!

Ok- So I love being a first grade teacher! I have had a great experience and I know I need to write down those funny moments more often, so here is one! If you have read "the pigeon books" you will understand how animated one has to be when reading these stories! They are my favorite! If you haven't had the joy of reading them, I highly recommend them! :)

So the other day I got a new Pigeon book called “Pigeon Wants a Puppy!”- it is hilarious! So I was reading to my class at the end of the day for a fun read aloud and in the middle of the book one of my cute students said, “Miss Gardner, you are good enough to be on Broadway!”- this made me smile and laugh (in my head of course). I thought it was so cute, because she has been to Broadway in New York and she thought that Me (who is the farthest thing away from acting) could be on Broadway! It just made my day! I am so thankful for great students who make my day everyday!

Other pigeon books: Don't let Pigeon ride the bus, Pigeon wants a hot dog, Don't let Pigeon stay up late, and Pigeon has feelings too.

Angels

Last Friday was my Birthday! It was such a great day! It started off great! My roomies and I read a conference talk in the morning before work, and on my birthday we read the talk by Elder Holland about the ministry of Angels. It was a great way for me to reflect on all of those amazing "Angels" that have been a part of my life. So throughout the day, it helped me be aware and so grateful for all of the family and friends who make my life so wonderful! I am so blessed with so many amazing people in my life! :) Thanks to everyone for making my Birthday so Great! :)

Here is a quote from Elder Holland's talk:

"I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

My birthday was truly great! I got to have a party with my students at school and my room mom's spoiled me-thank you so much! A few of my friends went to Pasta Factory for dinner and later that night we had a party with the crew! My family party was on Sunday with Alisha's! :)
It was truly a day where everyone spoiled me-thank you so much! I love you all!

Cherie & Me being silly girls!- We just met a few months ago-she is great!

Charise & Amy- practically sisters! I love you!

The gang at Pasta Factory- Amy & Jayson, Daimen & Amy, Brittnie & Dan, and Nicole, Kristin, Deon, Kelsey, Cherie, and Anilee.

Me, Jen, Lacee, & Deon- The girls!
Casey, Me, & Adam- nice shirts guys! :)

Family Party- Me, Paige, & Alisha! Paige helped blow out the candle! S
he is my adorable little buddy!

Zion

Well late Friday afternoon a couple of the girls decided to have a fun girls night out in Zion. My roommate Deon helps manage a new hotel out in Zion. We went and stayed out there for the night! We went jacuzzing and just chilled in the room. If anyone is looking for a quick get away one weekend, it is an awesome place. Go and check it out at cablemountainlodge.com . (I told her I would do some free advertising). They just opened this last August. It was a quick trip-but fun to get out of town (if that is what you can call it). Homework still keeps me pretty busy, we had a few friends over Saturday night too. The weekend went by fast, but so does every week- always plenty to do. We had stake conference this weekend. It was so awesome- the spirit was amazing! I love Sundays and being rejuvenated for a new week! :)

Wow- Look at those skills! Jumping pics are so fun!

Quick Update

This week has been full of work and homework! Just the usual. It has been a great week. Deon is trying to get me into the running thing as well. I have not been a great fan in the past, but when I have someone to go with, it is a little more motivational. I went with my roommate, Deon, to the Temple yesterday! My most favorite place to be! I also got to spend some time with Alisha and her family- Paige and I had a blast on the playground- The slide was a hit! Rushton played a great basketball game! He is in a little basketball league, it was hilarious to watch five year olds play basketball--they did pretty good! And last night we had a crew over at our house for pizza, games, and a good time! It was fun to fit in the social into my crazy week! I keep telling myself that the end is in sight with all this homework! :)

Quote about the Temple:
by: John A. Widstoe
"It is good to be in the temple, the house of the Lord, a place of priesthood instruction, of peace, of covenants, of blessings, and of revelation. Gratitude for this privilege and an eager desire to posses the spirit of the occasion should overflow in our hearts."