Thunder in the Valley 2011!!

So the last time I went to Thunder in the Valley was summer.... just after high school. 

here is a trip down memory lane: 

Thunder in the Valley 2006...

Vanessa & I took our friend Hailey from Airdrie. Vanessa drove out with Brody Cisar and Hailey came with me in my Dad's truck pulling my parents trailer. As we were driving we had gone over the "hump" just past honey coulee I got an idea I could put the truck in neutral and coast down that way I could save gas....

K-yes I know IDIOT!!!!! 

So as we were coming around a sharp curve in the road the weight from the trailer was too much and not having trailer brakes and having the truck in neutral- I lost control and the truck and trailer shot off the edge of the road down the side of the mountain.... Yes with Hailey and I inside. I remember yelling "I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SO SORRY!!!!" all the way down until we were lucky enough to stop when we hit a tree.

These were our tracks as we skid off the edge of the road

right where we launched off it doesn't look too bad in the picture but their is a 2 foot drop off straight down before the slope of the hill starts 

 This is the Lovely little tree that stopped us from going all the way to the bottom of the mountain

 This is Hailey and I hiking back to the road to try to get reception to call someone for help 

(we were the back of the convoy)

 This is the sign we found at the opposite end of the road from where we started.... maybe they should put one @ both ends?

Good thing my dad's truck is a tank and there was ABSOLUTELY no damage to the truck the tree the trailer or us! we were VERY lucky. if we would have hit the drop off @ any other angle then what we did we would have rolled for sure....

So our friends eventually came looking for us and we went on our merry way camping for the night....the next day we met the tow-truck driver who winched us back up onto the road we were quite a ways down... and we hopped in the truck and continued to our camp site...as for the rest of the trip...well that was then lets not live in the past.....

So onto Thunder in the Valley 2011!!!

I went with Ashley & Caleb this year! so it was WAY fun!!! We also met up with Leah & Travis later in the day and camped with them as well.

I met Ashley & Caleb @ 7:30am in fort macleod... then followed them to the pass where we met up with Caleb's sister Cherum and his Mom & Dad. once we were all set up we decided to go on a hike. 

Did I mention I LOVE hiking!!!

The infamous pop-up tent from B-K-Country adventures

Brett willed this to me when he left on his mission....

Caleb's parents took the road all the way up...

The rest of us decided to take a short cut part way up... 

Pretty mountain view on the way up

The Nike rock.... This rock had paint splatter on it and it was a PERFECT Nike check mark.

Final Destination

The Glorious Meadow on the way down... If I knew how to post a video I have one of Caleb frolicking

On the way down....

 A Little hidden waterfall on the way down

 Super Cool Flower that apparently only exists in the upper Rocky mountains but I can't remember what it was called...... Help --> Ashley??

The view from the tower

Me and the Cuties :)

The second peak!

Awe Aren't they Cute?? They are my Favorite :)

We hiked straight down the face on the way back and followed the train tracks back to our vehicle.

This is our hike beginning to end we started @ the truck there in the left corner and ended @ the tiny little tower on the lower part of the mountain on the right side of the picture...look closely you can see it 

After our hike we met up with the Bevans...made some food and headed to the fire works

there was a FREAK rain storm and we got SOAKED!!! this pic is me and Ashley in our make-shift shelter but once it started to DOWN-POOR (harder than I have ever seen before) we headed for the car and didn't stand a chance we were DRENCHED!!!

This is Caleb's Mom & Dad Hiding from the rain hahaha I LOVE it!

Thanks for the Fun Guys! I had a great weekend! 

Thanks for changing my opinion of Thunder in the Valley!

Calgary Temple

I am REALLY excited for the Calgary Temple to be built!! Alyssa & I went down to Calgary for her friends wedding reception the day after Canada Day and we stopped @ the temple site to check out the progress..... I approve things seems to be going well haha good job workers!! Only sad thing is they are staring to close it in so soon I will not be able to physically see the progress they are making!! 

Yay Calgary Temple!

You are so beautiful to me!!! (sing this to that tune...)

After our 5 minute temple trip (we were running late) we headed south to the reception.

It was nice and small (which was funny because I didn't know the bride or the groom and usually you can hide @ weddings but not this one.... hahaha)

As we were leaving the Chapel this sign was hanging just inside the door.

Sooooo FUNNY!!!

Talk about tacky.....but who knows maybe it is effective....?

hahaha

Canada Day!!

So I'm not gonna lie I was not nearly as patriotic as I could/should have been on Canada Day but I did do a little celebrating! 1st off Alyssa & I woke up @ 8:30 and went to the free pancake breakfast down at the legislative building... where we ran into Russel & Bethany...(They were WAY more decked out than us) P.S. I found out this day they are having a baby boy in October!!  CONGRATS!!!

If you look closely her shirt said "Everyone loves a Canadian girl" but she crossed it out and wrote Baby Boy 

And Yes my eyes are closed.... haha

After Pancakes Alyssa had to go to work so we headed home so she could be there by 11. She is a hair dresser. Now most of you know I am on a SUPER tight budget @ the moment working my way out of debt... but in order to maintain my sanity I decided to treat myself to a new dew...Since I hadn't aloud myself to spend any money in couple months... Alyssa being the lovely lady she is gave me a steal of a deal so I couldn't resist. Shortly after she went to work on Canada Day I follwwed her there...

This is the before shot 

My bongs were super long and awkward so I was just wearing a head band ALL THE TIME!

It's VERY long been a while since I cut it...

 

During shot haha

Foils always look so ridiculous while being done.... the things we do to try to look beautiful lol

And here is an after I just got a trim cause I'm super attached to my long hair right now.... but this pic shows the highlights pretty good. There are "lowlights" as well but hard to see. and my bangs are manageable again YAY!!

After the "New Dew" and Alyssa having to stay late @ work to finish cause I have a lot more hair than we realized... It was time to make some supper. We got home and Alyssa went to check the freezer to see what we had and look what she found....

Yup a Canadian Pizza!! what are the chances? that was the only one we had left in the freezer 

it worked out Perfect!!

After our 2 person Pizza party we headed over to the household of Bohnet, Jared, Scott, Brad & Daylin. (Basically my second home) They had some running around to do so we tagged along with Scott & Brad. While Alyssa Scott & I were waiting outside wal-mart for Brad to come back and pick us up, we tried out the kiddie pools outside.  

Funny story: I was laying in the kiddie pool after Scott had gotten out and this little girl came over to me and she couldn't have been more than 4. We thought her dad called her Kayla so Scott said hey her name is Kayla as well. the little girl came right up close to me and said, "I don't buy it." hahahaha

Then her dad called her again and she didn't go instead she was in the pool Scott's in in the picture and she leaned over the edge of the pool and put her face like not even an inch away from mine and said in this little demon child voice, "I'm gonna dump you out if this pool." and then proceeded to attempt to do so.... then she went to her dad and I quickly left because she scared the heck outta me. It was all cute till the demon voice freaked me out when she was like 1/2 inch away from biting my nose off.....

hahahaha then we went to the fireworks......and that was my Canada Day 2011

Hope you all had a great day! What did you do for Canada day?

New Tradition (or another Addiction?)

So this Tradition began after the Portland trip where Brett Fed my addiction of Temples and took me to see 4 temples in 24 hours. After this journey I wanted to see the Calgary temple... So now its tradition every time I'm going through Calgary and I'm with someone who hasn't yet been to the site (or I have adequate time) I MUST stop by and check on the progress and take a picture!

Me & Brett 

Me & Lacey on our way home from Time out for Women

 Me & Auntie Jen on our way home from Lacey's Wedding

It is sooo FUN to watch it progress!! The purpose for this Post was I was just looking on the BLOG I follow which shows the construction and they are starting to close it up!!!!! Time for another visit!!!

I stole this picture off the other BLOG

check out the progress @

Calgary Temple Construction

I have never followed a Temple while it was being constructed nor have I ever been to an open house or dedication so I'm WAY excited that it will all be happening so close to home soon!! 

I'm addicted to church stuff...

I discovered this CNN video while looking up some articles on the Mormon channel...It's by a Religious professor from somewhere but it answers some common questions pretty simply...

So I like it.

Click on the Video once you get to the "newsroom" page...

Cool CNN Video

Ashley check it out I made words for my link....
but I still don't know how to do the picture link thing...

Also Very interesting.....check out these videos...
News room Videos

Wow time is flying by....

So there are a few things that I have been meaning to Blog about for a while now.... so this may be a little out-dated but thats ok.... My motto is "better late than never" cause I'm seriously late for everything!! with the exception of work (this did not used to be the case so I guess that is a step in the right direction.....) 

First of all I had just finished my second teaching practicum and was stopping by the school to say hi to my former students so I thought it would be a nice gesture to drop off some thank-you cards so I ran into Micheals to find something (I know this is like a sin given the amount of scrap booking stuff I have.....but I didn't have time to whip something up...) So anyway getting off track here on my way out of the store I see this.....

Some of you may look at this and say "ya big deal a bike..." 

WRONG! Look closer..... there is a DOG zippered into the pouch on the back wearing sunglasses 

hahahahahahahaha I laughed so hard when I saw this.... the little guy looked like he meant business and could probably hardly move but it made me laugh.... So I thought I would share.

Second Bye Bye Brett.....

So Brett Olsen Reported to the MTC on May 4th 2011 which means he flew out May 3rd which means I had to say my goodbyes May 2nd.

I went to his place that morning and we made grilled cheese and took one last "Road Trip" before he left. We went to Clear Lake hahahaaha So it was fairly insignificant in comparison to the rest of the road trips we have taken together but some how we still managed to make it a ridiculously entertaining trip. Here are some pictures before the good-bye/ Waterworks.... I swear this kid does not take a normal picture so this is as good as it gets.....hahaha

So I left his place and was a mess of tears....Happy tears mind you but tears none the less. That was a REALLY hard good bye! It was so Messed up! cause I was SOOOO HAPPY to see him going on a mission, but at the same time was so sad to be saying goodbye to my best friend for the next 2 years....We have been through A LOT together! 

We both started to come back to church full-on at roughly the same time and we helped each other A LOT! 

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be there when he decided he was going to serve, and when he got his call, and to see him off. Seeing him go through all that was such a testimony builder for me.

We also did A LOT like A LOT of REALLY stupid things together.... So I'm at a loss as to who will do any of this with me for the next 2 years?

Like I don't know anyone who would buy matching sweatsuits and run around at the Greycup with me wearing NBA headbands....or who would drive all the way to Great falls for lunch just because we can.... or who would drive all the way to Whistler for a weekend of snowboarding and have me back on time for meetings Monday morning...

 This is the "after water-works" picture...I went for a drive after and ya haha I look like death....

But since I had my initial Cry I have been O.K. he is doing great and since this will be the last Blog about Mr. Brett I'll share a little picture he sent me....

He called this pic "Me and the Kids"

Cause he is the oldest Elder by far where he is... hahaha 

Good Luck Elder Olsen!!

Your gonna dominate the South!

Take care!

Bye Bye Brett

I am trying......

So as you all know my life is a gong show at best..... lately I have really been trying to force myself to focus on "one thing at a time" so that I do not lose my mind.....TRYING  being the dominate word there.... I was just on you tube trying to find a link to the CREATE message by pres. Utchdorf which is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k

And I found this message which I also like and feel I SERIOUSLY need to take into consideration! 5 more days and I will be free of online courses and B-pressure tests for a while....I will seriously get to maul this idea over of "what matters most"

Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYhDhiojBPA&feature=relmfu

P.S. I do not know how to make a cool "hyperlink" to this the way Amy and Ashley always do.....so I would LOVE to be taught some day ;)

Holiday Horses

So before I get into this adventure I have to share my favorite story about my friend Chris HOLIDAY.

I met Chris about 4 years ago when I first moved to Edmonton and did my first stint in YSA. Then I went MIA and 2.5 years later I met up with Chris again when I came back to church for GOOD! 

One day between classes I was at the institute visiting with some people and Chris was there being his 'formal' self as I was leaving to head back to class he said, "see ya later Sister Needham" 

what the heck? lol no one ever calls me that haha to which I responded, "see ya later.... I can't remember your last name I know it has something to do with Valentines day or Love or something like that." He started to laugh and said, "Holiday? well I guess you could classify Valentines day as a holiday." and everyone was laughing and was like oooo Kayla you associated Chris with love. So I asked him to be my valentine (which at that point was like 6 months away) and from that point on I always called him my valentine.

Anyway back to the Holiday Horses....

So Chris finished dental school and was in southern Alberta the week that I was in the south, Negotiating my contract and saying bye to Brett and all that Crazy Jazz. Chris rides horses and I like riding horses so he offered to take me riding! It was soooooooo much FUN!

I woke up VERY early and got to his house at like 10-ish I think

Then the FUN began.

We went out and got the horses...they were VERY friendly and willing to cooperate I just had a little bucket of oats and they followed me right out of the pen right over to this post.

This was the first horse I rode that day...he was SOOOOOOO good 

his name was Checkers!!

He was SUCH a good horse!

These were my SAD attempts at getting on the horse without a saddle.....apparently I am NOT a natural at this jazz lol

We rode down to the St. Mary's river that morning It was soooooo much FUN! we didn't get back until about 2:00

We crossed the River a couple times this was a "fake" shot because the river was too deep where we actually crossed to be messing around with the camera so Chris had me go back in at a shallower spot and pose. Where we actually crossed only the horses head was out of the water and he almost got swept away at one point. He was SOOOOO good though! I fell in love with him.

Got a nice little shot of the crew... put the timer on the old camera. 

Look at those good horses both looking at the camera So Photogenic

This is the infamous sulky. Normally Chris puts Checkers on the Sulky but we had already taken him out so Chris decided to put SIR on it. He had never been hooked up to the Sulky before and did really well for his first time according to Chris. We walked him around for a bit on it and he seemed OK so we got on the back and he was doing well and then we got to the ditch to cross to enter into the field and he spooked and started Baggin through the ditch and going nuts! So I'm hanging on for dear life as Chris is trying to stop him. Chris ended up having to jump off and run in front of the horse to stop him. I could not stop laughing for soooooo long!! IT was so HILARIOUS!

This is Sir hooked up to the Sulky...

After the Sulky it was time to go home.....or go riding again.....hmmm OBVIOUSLY I chose riding again!!!

this guys name is Buck

I Love BUCK!!!!! 

he was my very FAVORITE!! what a good looking horse!

he's a stud and has such a sweet mane it makes him look CRAZY! I LOVE IT!! he is SO handsome!

I want a buckskin horse!! they are gorgeous!!!

He was SOOOO good we went passed a field with a whole bunch of horses in it and he ran beside them all it was so FUN I think he wanted to race them...cause he dominated, and would have been ever quicker if I wasn't holding him back.... 

Thanks for all the FUN Chris 

I had a WONDERFUL day 

I LOVE horses!!

I want a horse sooooooo BAD!

I'm thinking palomino or Buck-skin. But I am broke and have no land 

so I just need to find myself a cowboy I guess....

Life as I currently know it....

So recently I have gone back to work......YAY!!!

Seriously I had no idea how much I LOVED my job career choice until I left it for a year to attend University! I remember before I went to U of A dreading getting up in the morning to go to work I slept in until the last possible second and was late a lot! Then I started at U of A and my sleeping habits got significantly worse I hated school! I REALLY did not want to wake up for class and when I did by the time I got there I just slept the whole time anyway... So looking back I should have just spent the time having fun cause I did all my school work on my own time anyway...

Since I quit with the "no need to mention" school division I feel like a HUGE weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and I couldn't be happier! in fact I am so happy to be free from that commitment and so HAPPY to be back working again doing what I LOVE I wake up on time everyday! in fact I wake up in time everyday that I ride my bike to work! which I LOVE because it wakes me up in the morning...so by the time I get to work I have got enough fresh air that I am no longer in "zombie" mode (those of you who know me at all know that I am NOT a morning person).

the past few weeks have looked like this....

6:15 wake up

6:15-6:45 get ready for work, pack lunch, brush teeth etc.

6:50 Ride bike to work

7:10-7:20 ish arrive at work

(this is CRAZY because I used to arrive at work around 7:29 and I'm supposed to start work at 7:30 I think the boss is liking this new and improved Kayla)

7:30am-8:00pm work

8:00pm ride bike home

8:30 shower 

9-12 hang out with room mates or neighbors or do homework (for STUPID online course that I was too late to drop out of, but is almost OVER!!!!)

Then Repeat...

Needless to say I am very quickly BURNING out!!

Not to worry everyone this is not my permanent or mandatory work schedule I was just trying to take advantage of the available overtime while I could after all I am still in MEGA debt ;) 

and it did impress the boss so maybe I'll get a raise soon or something hahaha I can dream 

saturday June 4th (yesterday) I had the most productive day I've had in a long time I ran about 5000 errands and tied up a ton of loose ends, finally got home around 6 ate some food, sat down to do some homework and passed out on the couch with my laptop in hand and woke up at 2:30 am....at which point I finished up my homework and did a few other things and decided what the heck I'm not tired I might as well do some blogging. (seeing as that is the most sleep I've had in the last little while I'm feeling pretty rested at the moment) Besides tomorrow  today is Sunday so it's NAP day! I'll be fine. 

Anyway things are going pretty good over here in my world at the moment I can't complain! I have SOOOOO much to be grateful for!

Wonderful Friends & Family

GREAT room mates (new & old)

Good Job 

Almost done my Stupid online course :)

I'm Healthy 

I'm happy

I've received a couple letters ;) 

(Brett is doing great BTW)

I have made time to have some fun again!

I AM SOOOOOOO BLESSED

I can't wait to see how things work out here in the next little while.... I've got some MEGA plans

STAY TUNED...