Not again

So I had a little mishap in my soccer game and Tuesday. I play on a team with PA class plus a few others in a Co-ed Mesa Park and Rec League. This is our third season in this league and while we play really hard we usually don't win unless someone forfeits or we tie. This was my first game this season, because I was out of town for the other two during our break. Anyways I was going for a great steal from a guy who was taking to long to take a shot on goal. I came from behind and kicked the ball to my teammate just in time for him to nail my ankle with all the force he could kick with. I immediately went down writhing in pain. My team is full of former athletic trainers who got me to the sidelines and got my foot elevated and some ice on it. I wasn't in too much pain that night, although I made Jon carry me to the car and to our apartment because I couldn't walk on it. We thought it was a bad ankle sprain. So Jon took me to school the next morning and we tracked down some crutches from some classmates. My foot all the time getting bigger and bigger. So I went to the doctor and she sent me to the neighboring hospital for some X-rays. We got the report back the next morning and can you believe that guy kicked me so hard on the inside of my ankle that it broke the bone on the outside of my ankle. It was totally an accident, he had no idea I was coming, but still I am stuck in a boot for 6 weeks on crutches. Well so much for the soccer season, I am done. I'll have to say a broken leg/foot is much worse than a broken arm/hand. I am so helpless and such a klutz, I keep bumping into things. But I am getting good on the crutches. I have decided to quit my extracurricular activities and take-up knitting for the rest of 2008, cause I cannot stand to break another bone, I might loose my mind. Anyways enjoy the pics of my ever enlarging foot.

So for those who are interested I have a Weber Type A Transverse Fracture of the distal fibula/lateral malleolus, it is a little more proximal than a typical avulsion fracture, but nondisplaced(no surgery, thank goodness). Essentially I broke the bone that sticks out on the outside of your ankle.

Back at it

I started back to school this week. So last weekend Jon and I decided to make the most of our last bit of freedom together before I start another quarter at school. He got back from North Carolina on Friday night. So Saturday we went to the Temple, which we don't do often enough here in AZ. Then we geared up for my first bike ride since I broke my arm. My (great) Uncle Rich always said if you get bucked off a horse, the best thing to do is get right back on it and ride. So it has been a few months and we headed back out to the same trail. I wore my roller blading wrist guards this time, just in case I fell I wouldn't break the same bone again. Anyways we headed out with Jon in the lead this time. I was slow going and felt like I was going to bite it at anytime on the loose gravel. So I got spooked and turned around after a quarter mile at the most. Jon loaded up the bikes although I am sure he was disappointed I think he also understood my apprehension. But before we headed in I had him take a picture just to prove that I did get back out there. That night we went to Joe's Farm Grill one of our favorite little restaurants, all the food is organic and you can eat outside on picnic tables. Though a month late we cashed in on the Birthday discount, 10 bucks off is an awesome deal. The strawberry shake is my favorite part, although the massive burger I got was also delicious(this coming from a somewhat deprived wife of a vegetarian) So happy late birthday to me!

Alex is a missionary!

My brother left on Memorial Day for the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah. He will be serving in the Eugene, Oregon mission for the next two years. I am sad that I won't be able to spend time with him for awhile, but at the same time I am so excited for him and what lies ahead. He will be an awesome missionary.

It has been a while since I have had missionary out to write. I really don't like writing letters, however I got my first letter from Alex yesterday and it really made my day. He already sounds like a missionary and he had only been gone for a week. But it is a true witness what the Lord can do with a willing servant.

Here is everybody together for Alex's farewell, it will be two years before we all get back together again for another family picture. So enjoy :)

Where is the World is Carmen San Diego

We didn't really go anywhere, we're still in Mesa, but we may have dropped off the face of the blogspot planet for oh 6 months or so. And after not doing something for so long it makes it harder to get back to it. But after many hints and 2 weeks off of school we thought it was time to get back into it. Up to this point Jon has written all the posts and I quite enjoyed it, but I guess it is now my responsibility. He actually turned the reigns over to me a few months ago. I had high aspirations to update on my break at the end of February, but I quite conveniently broke my right arm mountain biking the first day of my break, thus delaying the process. To catch up on the past 6 months I thought I'd do the highlights that I actually took pictures of.

We rang in the New Year with the Spencers in Tempe.


We tried out snow shoeing in American Fork Canyon, notice my broken hand/arm with the sock on it :)

My sister, Crystal, and I had had enough snow, so we are on our way back down. My brother, Alex, and Jon's mission buddy Joe also joined us on our snow shoeing adventure.


This is my first cast, luckily my second one was waterproof, a big improvement.


This is Jon in Havasupai, I was suppose to go, but with a broken arm and pending midterms my brother Eric came in from Arkansas to join him. It is a beautiful place I was so jealous, we'll be going back, let us know if you want to join us.

The Northeast is for us!

We are the home of a proud champion. Our very own Amber successfully ran to the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the footsteps of one of her heroes; Sly Stallone himself.

That was just one of our treasured memories from our vacation to the Northeast. We spent 2 days in the city of Brotherly Love with our dear friends the Genhos, who we met in Omaha and who consistently pressure Jon to give up his fickle vegetarian ways. They live right next to Liberty Square so we were able to see where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were drafted and signed. We toured the Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, Constitution Hall, Carpenter Hall, the Second Bank of the US, and Betsy Ross' house. Not to mention we got to eat a cheese steak that our chef whizzed all over.

Being in such hollowed ground where our founders drafted the Constitution was truly amazing and inspiring. We felt so privileged and honored to be in the shadows of those great men and so proud to be Americans; part of the greatest country in all of the world's history.

Philadelphia is a fun city beyond its historic significance. Our hosts were very generous and great guides as we traversed the entire city; much of it on foot. So many parks, shops, and fun and interesting people. Not to mention being in the Northeast during the fall with the most beautiful foliage that was resplendent.

From Philly, we hopped on the train at Union Station and made our way through Jersey, New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts up into Boston. Our first night was in Cambridge and we got to see MIT and the rest of Cambridge's happening co-eds. Church on Sunday was in a really cool, old renovated building that was not like any other church building I had seen before. Not only that, but we were the only ones without at least two kids. It was an unreal place. Boston is very fertile!

Our tour of this great city was just as impressive as Philly. We stayed in the middle of downtown right on the Freedom Trail. What a cool 2 mile walk that was. It was a bit cold with some flurries in the air and a wispy breeze but such a beautiful town. We started at Fanueil Hall and from there went to Boston Common, the Mass. state house, the Boston Massacre site, the Old State House, Paul Revere's house, Bunker Hill, and everything in between. That history was truly inspiring as the first battles of the revolution took place in that city. Boston still has the feel of independence and pride (probably b/c we did not see Mr. Kerry anywhere) and you could almost feel the defiance of the city lasting from the days when those brave men and women sacrificed their all for freedom, liberty, independence, and the pursuit of happiness.

Not only that, but they have some darn good clam chowder that Amber downed like it was water in the desert. Jon got to watch the Patriots beat down the Bills in an authentic Pats bar and cheer alongside the locals (sometimes those smoke free laws aren't so bad). Great shopping downtown as well although all that we walked away with was a shirt and a cute hat for Amber.

We saw our first outdoor ice skating rink of the season and had a snowball fight from the Zamboni extras. The weather was cold but gave us a great start to the Christmas season. Boston was putting up all of their Christmas decorations and even had some carolers afoot.

What a great vacation we had. The Northeast seems to be calling us and I would not be surprised to see us end up there for a couple of years in the future. Amber wants to develop an accent, be ornery, be liberal, and tell people that she is from Philly. I am for the latter!