Memorial Day

Each year my family's neighborhood has the same tradition. Breakfast up American Fork Canyon on Memorial Day at the Canyon Park. Well this year was different. We still went up for breakfast up the same old canyon, but this time we ate at Mutual Dell. Don't ask me why but I swear we didn't eat at Mutual Dell last year. Scottie didn't agree and since he will bet on anything and everything...he proposed thatwe should bet. The bet? 100 dollars to spend on anything. Me, the shop-aholic who hasn't shopped since who knows when, decided to take him up on it. Driving up the canyon I was picturing the cute outfits I would soon be purchasing with the prize money and the look on my husbands face when he realized he was wrong. But that all came to an abrupt halt when we pulled into Mutual Dell and flashbacks came back from last year. He was right! We did eat at Mutual Dell!! How could I forget!! Since my husband loves a good bet and he knows I absolutely HATE losing, he decided to rub it in......hard core. So here we are at Mutual Dell and me being a good sport? Ya right....I'm actually a very sore loser.... just ask Scottie.

Things I Love About my Man

There are several things I love about my man! But this weekend made me realize that I really did find myself a catch! Here's why...

He is a surpriser...let me explain. I thought my Scottie was going to be coming home on Thursday night but that all changed when I was driving home from school on Wednesday and noticed a familiar car in the driveway. I was so excited to see him!! Also since we will be gone south for the summer we plan on doing lots of fun things like going to Lake Powel, Bryce Canyon, Zion's, etc. So, while Scottie was here this weekend I thought it would be a good idea to plan out our vacations on the calendar. That's when he said "Well this weekend you'll be moving down and the next weekend we'll be going to Vegas..." In my mind I was thinking "What? Vegas?" and he was trying to move on from the converstaion because he realized he spilled the beans on his upcoming surprise. Since my birthday is in two weeks and I automatically knew what was happening. That's when I made him tell me the rest. So for my birthday he is taking me do Cirque du Soleil to the Beatles LOVE. Not only am I way excited to go see it but i also get to go on a shopping spree in the best malls ever!! Another great reason is that he doesn't mind housework!!! What?? Over the past few days while Scottie was here there were several things that he did such as" laundry, vacuuming, and of course...the dishes. Now since I was out of dishwasher soap I ran to the store to get some. Apparently my "going green" choice of soap didn't work so hot and left a nasty film of crap on our dishes. Well Scottie thought that he'd be creative and use "just a drop" of dish soap because he knows what happens when you use a lot. Haha not long after he did the dishes you can guess what happened.....we soon had soap suds running from underneath the dishwasher. But hey you can't blame a guy for trying right? It's the thought that counts. Thanks babe!

One Year Today

I can't believe it has been a whole year already. It seems as if it happened yesterday. Last year on this exact day I was thinking that Scottie was never going to pop the question. Since we had already picked out a ring I knew it would be any day. But, day after day it seemed as if it was never going to happen. Since it was the end of the school year, the first grade team was planning the end of the year program. Little did I know they all had a little surprise up their sleeves. It was the day of the program and it was a Tuesday. I didn't think he would just pop the question on a weekday so I was looking forward for the weekend...until Scottie told me that he would be gone for guard over the weekend. The night of the program, Scottie told me that he would be coming, but he wouldn't get there till late because he had to work. Well at the time he was working as library security at BYU, so he had to wear a shirt and tie. As our first grade program began, I saw him walk in in his shirt and tie. Since he had "just come from work" I didn't even think as to why he was all dressed up. Now, to give you a little background. Everyone on my team had a job to do in order to carry out the "First Grade Funny Farm" program. Since everyone had already "claimed" their job....I was in charge of giving the closing announcements. Well after the successful program I got up to give my huge list of announcements that the team and put together for me. I remember thinking "why do they want to me say all these announcements? This list is never ending!" While I was giving my shpeal to the parents, telling them thanks for coming, come get your kids, leave the costumes on the stage...my back was facing my kids and little did I know that Emily Raines (8 1/2 months pregnant) was crawling on her belly along with the other girls on the team passing out signs for my students on the back row to hold up. After I finished talking to the parents, I turned to my friend Erica Decker to ask her if I missed anything. She grabbed the microphone and turned to the audience. Apparently I had missed one of the eighty announcements. That's when she said " "We have a little surprise for Miss Swalberg. If we could have her turn around." As I turned around, my kids on the back row all held up a huge sign that said "Christie will you marry me?" I was completely shocked when Scottie started walking up in his shirt and tie and got down on one knee. I was blown away and couldn't believe what was happening! Of course he finally popped the question and I obviously said yes to the most wonderful man. So here we are one year later happily married and loving life!! Oh ya on more thing, thanks to my team for all their help pulling off a great proposal and thanks to my lil' sister Megs for helping with the sign!

One Fun Weekend

A weekend with Scottie...

Now that Scottie has been gone for about two weeks....it was finally time for him to pay me a visit. But since the price of gas is an arm and a leg these days, we decided that he can't come up every weekend or there would be no point for him to be down there working. I didn't think it would be too hard not seeing my honey everyday, but I soon learned that IT SUCKS!!!! Finally after some convincing and smooth talking, I eventually convinced him to come up! These past two weeks truly made me a believer of the saying "Distance makes the heart grow fonder" (cheesy I know) but it was nice to do nothing but hang out with my Scottie....and get a good nights sleep knowing that he would protect me from a burglar breaking in (ha ha).



Here we are at Jimmy Johns eating those yummy, yummy sandwiches!!!


Pony Party





For a long time now we (meaning everyone that I work with or used to work with) have been meaning to get together and catch up. Never the less with everyone's busy schedules it never works out. Fortunately thanks to the efforts of Jonna Sutterfield and Lindsey McChesney, we were finally able to get together with those who were able to make it. Those of you who didn't make it....well you definitely missed out. It was so fun hanging out with those that I currently teach with outside of school and it was also a lot of fun catching up with those who have become moms and quit their day job. But other than that, there was lots of yummy food!! Which is another reason those of you who didn't make it missed out. Hopefully everyone will be able to make it next time!!
Go Pony!

"Special K".... also known as my Mom

Since today is Mother's Day I thought I'd take a minute to tell you what a great mother I have.
So... in honor of my fabulous mom, I thought I'd give you the top 20 reasons I just love her!!!
Here we go....
20. She's tough as nails and never complains.
19. She is a convert to the church
18. She is a great mother in law (at least that's what Scottie says)
17. She can strike up a convo with absolutely anyone.
16. She never told me what to do but always had faith in me that I'd make the right choice.
15. She raised four wonderful children (yes, I'm one of them)
14. She married a wonderful man named Steve so I could have a wonderful Dad.
13. I love to scrapbook with her because she lets me use all of her scrapbook supplies.
12. She listens to all my problems and makes them all better.
11. She's a big fan of my Scottie.
10. She encouraged me to finish college when I got burned out.
9. She always has good advice
8. All my friends love her (to death)
7. She always "lets" me steal a sip of her Diet Coke....and never complains
6. She has a strong testimony.
5. She's the only woman I know who gets her visiting teaching done on the first day of the month...every month.
4. Came to every single basketball game I ever had.
3. She's gorgeous....hopefully I take after her when I get older.
2. She's a wonderful Grammy to her three grandchildren.
1. She's MY "Special K"

Overall my mother is fantastic and I know that 20 reason is just not enough to describe how wonderful she is, but I didn't want anyone to feel bad that they didn't get my mom for a mom!
Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!

My mom with her mom (also another great mom)

My mom and Dad with the grandkids.

With me on my way to get married!!

Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles

Since school is finally coming to an end, us first grade teachers are finding it hard to come up with things to teach our kids. Now that we are just about done with grades and all the areas of the curriculum have been taught...it's finally time for some fun!!

Each day from now on we will be having theme days. Today as you can see was bubble day. Not only was it nice to get out of the classroom and blow some bubbles, but I also got the chance to hang out with my lil first graders.

They loved blowing bubbles and I had a blast showing them the fun things they can do. I realize that I am a little burned out now that school is coming to an end and all I want is for it to be over.

But when I sit back and think about the fun things that we did this year and how well I have gotten to know these kids, I realize that I am really going to miss them!!

In the Eyes of First Graders

Since Mother's Day is right around the corner, my first graders made cards to honor their mothers. On the card it has several things such as a picture they drew along with a letter to their mom, a story to honor their mom and a little questionar for them to fill out about their mom. Some things were: my mom's favorite color is______her favorite food is______I think she is funny when she______ . But last but not least......my mom weighs______. I especially found this one hilarious because each time they reached this question they would all come up and ask me "What if I don't know how much my mom weighs?" In return I would ask them to just guess. Well each time their answer would be something like "I bet she weighs about 25?" or something along the lines of "Well I know my mom is trying to lose weight so I would guess 41!" Each time their answer made me laugh so I'm thinking that the next time I have a "fat day" I'll just got ask my kids...."How much do you think I weigh?"

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam!!

So ever since we moved into this ward, I've been praying that I wouldn't get a calling in the Primary.....so much for wishful thinking. Shortly after Scottie and I met the bishop we were called as Sunbeam teachers. Obviously word got out that I taught first grade or they found out that we're like the only newlywed couple without children....so they thought they'd give us an early start on parenting. Well anyway since Scottie is away I've been left alone to tend the lil kiddies myself. So far so good....until today when I recieved a new sunbeam. Apparently he loves Transformers and that's all he would shout out at the top of his lungs repeatedly over and over. Then he thought it would be even better if he'd hit me in some not so nice places and then run around the room while lifting up my skirt a couple a times. ohhhhh man I was about to lose it. Well after church I told the bishop that we won't be here for the summer. I thought that would be a good enough excuse to get out of my calling but apprantly we will be getting a substitute for the summer and when we return....we'll continue with our calling. Maybe I'll have to mention that we're not sure IF or when we will be returning?

not a dog...but a cat!

So I love dogs and Scottie doesn't. end of story. Well the other day when Scottie still lived up here, we got talking about cats. Anyway Scott mentioned something about getting a cat. Let me give you a little history. He wants to live in St. George....I will never live in St. George. Let me tell you one more time I will never live in St. George. Well since every story has two sides I want a dog and Scottie hates dogs. Did I mention that he hates dogs? In other words the only way I'll ever get a dog is if I agree to live in St. George and well that's just not gonna happen. Get the picture? Anyway when he mentioned something about the fact that I could have a cat and not have to move to St. George I jumped on the offer! After the landlord's (aka mom and dad) approval I started getting really excited...then realized it would have to wait until we get back from our summer excursion. But who knows maybe I'll take in some poor unfortunate cat like this little guy....maybe that will get Scottie to change his mind about dogs?? We'll see!

Livin' the Single Life

Some of you may know that this summer Scottie and I are going on a little excursion....well sort of? Since he and his sister Audrey own a bookkeeping business in Kanab we will be moving down south for the summer to work (& play). Now that Scottie is done with the Junior Core he has already moved down and I....I am living the single life once again (well not really but you get my drift). As soon as I am done with school I will be running down to join my honey. Until then...well let's just say I've had lots of time to sit and think of the old times when I was single. Those of you who knew me in my sinlge days know that I was stubborn and didn't want to settle down. I was freaked out when it came to the thought of getting married!!. But now I don't know how I lived the sinlge life for so long? It must have been really boring?? Now I am counting down the days till I get to see my honey. Until then I continue to look forward to our four hour phone calls and picture messages and counting down the days until I am finally not living the "single" life.