Miss Iron County

I have always wanted to judge a "beauty" pageant and this August I was able to do so. I was invited to be the novice judge for Miss Iron County 2009. The pageant was held in Cedar City and 12 contestants participated in the pageant. Since Miss Iron County goes to Miss Utah and Miss Utah goes to Miss America I had to read all sorts of information from the Miss America organization and go through a judges orientation. There is so much more that goes into these pageants then just the beauty part. The 2 directors in Cedar City have spent months with these girls helping them get ready for the pageant- mock interviews, learning how to walk in high heels, choosing the best evening gown and swimsuit and polishing their talents. I spent weeks reading over the contestants bios, platforms and deciding on questions to ask them during their private interview. We ended up crowning Delaney Westfall (photo) as the new Miss Iron County. I know that pageants aren't for everyone but my experience with being the D-Queen and in the Days of 47 royalty has been nothing but rewarding. I got scholarships, I made lasting friendships, got new clothes, I learned to feel more comfortable on stage, answer questions with both small and large audiences and I played my flute much more than my mom ever thought I would. :) If anyone has ever been interested in doing a pageant I would highly recommend it...what do you have to lose? Nothing, in my opinion.

Eatin' and Floatin'

LAKE POWELL

2009

Some of my earliest and most cherished memories are from Lake Powell. I remember getting up double skiing with my dad (I think he held me, the rope and managed to get up), going to dangling rope, cliff jumping with my big/cool cousins, sleeping in my swimming suit and swimming out to the tires in the Wahweap Marina. Lake Powell is definitely more work now that I am considered an "adult" and I wouldn't say that it is the most relaxing vacation but well worth the effort. In this blog I want to tell you 10 things about our Powell adventure.

ZERO

Zero is the number of sunburns that anyone received while down at Lake Powell. I attribute this to all the sunscreen my redheaded mother brought and that fact that we are all over 18, know how to put sunscreen on and have been fried one to many times.

ONE
One houseboat is what you need at Lake Powell. I will never be able to camp at Lake Powell because I enjoy the luxuries of the houseboat too much-namely running water, flush toilets and air conditioning.

TWO

Two motor boats are needed to make everyone happy. 1 for slalom skiing and 1 for the wake boarders. Thanks dad for pleasing everyone!

THREE

Three is the number of people who ended up with the "lake powell" rash. Myself, Colin and Carter. I attribute this rash to a mixture of HEAT RASH (A heat rash is a rash that develops on the skin due to friction from clothing and heat. The combination of the two with some other factors causes a skin irritation know as heat rash), SUN RASH (A sun rash is seen as small, reddish blisters or small or large spots in areas that have been exposed to sunlight. This rash usually appears after minutes' or hours' exposure to the sun and can be extremely itchy), a sensitivity to SUNSCREEN (One of the few possible side effects of sunscreens is a rash from the SPF chemicals) and dirty water.

FOUR

We only had four girls on this vacation. My mom, sister Bria, sister-in-law Katie and myself. You will note that I am wearing a hat in many pictures and that is because I got that rash right in my hairline and it BURNED in any sunlight. I think we are pretty good looking boat babes.

FIVE

We had at least 5 people reading each others books. My dads idea of a vacation is reading. Some of the books that were being read were, Liberty and Tyranny, The Wall Strip Edge, Becoming Jane, The 10 Big Lies About America, Mere Christianity, Fighting for Your Marriage, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. Happy reading.

SIX

Six little moneys hanging on a tree. For one of our adventures we drove up West Canyon, hiked up the end of the canyon, saw 2 beavers, ate lunch and climbed on this huge tree in the middle of the canyon.

SEVEN

Seven is the number of 6:00 AM ski trips that my dad, Bart and I went on. We had a few others come with us once in a while but we are the die hards. Fabulous water and it was 82 degrees!

EIGHT

We have eight happy Craigo's, smiling at the bottom of the sand hill. Mom, Dad, Bria, Kaile, Carter, Colin, Canessa and Bart. It is a tradition to climb to the top of the sand hill each Lake Powell trip. It is a steep, long hill...I promise the pictures don't do it justice. We are at least getting smarter and going in the evening when it is cooler and in the shade.

NINE

Pirate dice, hot dice, hearts, spades, thumper, monopoly, speed, I got mine, big booty. Nine games that we played almost everyday and sometimes multiple times a day. It's fun to sit around the houseboat and play games together.

TEN

I give this vacation a 10!!!

MAD COW DISEASE

Welcome to my dam work!

For the last few months - much to the chagrin of my lovely wife - I have spent weekdays as the resident engineer for the rehabilitation of a dam and reservoir on the Ute Indian reservation north of Roosevelt, Utah (northeastern region of the state). I have to deal with lots of dam stuff; dam equipment, dam plans, dam weather, dam people, and even dam cattle (they are in our construction zone, so I feel like they have earned this prestigious title)!

Well, in an effort to lose the last of my extra cruise weight (yes, the cruise was in January - and I am still feeling the affects of the all you can eat fish and chips), I began my sojourn in the foothills of the Uintah mountains with the goal of running around the drained reservoir each night. The two and a half miles seemed like twenty the first time, and each subsequent time it seemed to get a little longer. After faithfully running each night for about a week and a half the relief I had been looking for came in the form of a yearling bull. Twice my weight and size, a black bull decided he didn't like that I was running on his road. I figured a rock or two, or perhaps a mean human holler might remove him from my path - alas, he became even more upset with me. He pounded the ground with his hoof thingy's, threw his head around - bull snot flying all around - and came closer to me.

I thought that "mad cow disease" had something to do with a virus or bacteria or something, but this bull clearly had a serious case of "mad cow disease". I am a little crazy - but not completely crazy. I figured this was a good excuse to abandon my lofty running goal, and carefully return to my trailer.

Needless to say, I haven't got any more exercising done at the dam and I haven't lost the last of the cruise pounds. But I guess I didn't really want to run around the lake anyway, say the dam bull made for a good excuse.

Tah tah for now - stay tuned for our next episode "DAM WORK FOR DUMMIES"

The 24th of July

Instead of dressing up, putting on a tiara and being in a parade, this 24th of July was low key and easy. I was scheduled to work a 12 hours shift at the hospital but I ended up getting cancelled! Hooray. So, we were able to go up to the Little Cottonwood cabins. These are "true" cabins-not the mammoth things that some people call cabins. These little pioneer cabins have been in the family for many generations. As I get older, family and traditions become more important. I am so glad that I was able to spent time with my grandparents, cousins and aunt/uncle.



Mom making homemade burnt almond fudge ice cream.



Ammon and Colin playing horseshoes. Colin is already asking for a rematch...but he is already the WiNnEr.

It takes many judges to decide who is closer and ultimately gets the point.

Carter and Matt went fishing in the dam and actually caught this lovely trout.

..................................................................We always play PIT while up at the cabin. It is a loud, noisy, fun game. I thought the game had been discontinued but my cousin just told me that they actually still make it!!!

We FLIP for Bear Lake

To clarify, I am not exactly the one "flipping". This is Carter midair and below is Colin. Carter has been boating since he was 8 years old and Colin since he was 12. Carter landed his first flip while at Bear Lake and Colin has been doing tricks since before his mission.I do not like to fall hard, face plant or hurt myself thus I don't do flips- I am lucky if I can make it in and out of the wake. The x-star has a massive wake. You literally feel a drop when you go over the edge.
I am a great cheerleader for anyone out in the water and I try to be helpful by holding the flag- unless the water is glassy and I have my slalom ski, then I will get in.

Bart and Katie are both fishes- it must be the Dutch blood because Bear Lake was only 58-62 degrees and they both got in numerous times. Katie was the only girl to actually get in the water, I am pathetic, I know. :)

Bear Lake is beautiful and clear.

Surfing is AWESOME. We fill up the left ballast and everyone sits on the left side of the boat. You start out in the water with a short rope and small surfboard. Once you get up and find the "sweet spot" you can throw the rope in and surf behind the boat. Surfing requires little strength and not much coordination.

Cute Carter wears his knee brace and helmet out in the water.

I am lucky that Bart's family has a cabin at Bear Lake that they let my family come too. Bart has many fond memories of Bear Lake and so do I!

Birthday Boy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Bart had his Birthday this passed weekend. We celebrated by eating and visiting and boating and eating some more and napping and eating and blowing out candles. I think Bart's favorite present was an extension

cord from my parents, he seemed genuinely excited to use his new tool-and now he can give his fathers extension cord back. :)



I'm a lucky girl to have convinced Bart to marry me. He is kind, a hard worker, sincere, optimistic, funny, honest and the hottest slalom skier ever!!! I hope 28 treats him well and that all his birthday wishes come true.

A Reason to Smile

These are my new boots! It is pathetic to blog about boots but I am so happy that I finally bought them, I have to show the blogging world. They are fabulous, hand crafted, all leather, and made in Spain. I have been eyeing these boots for 3 years and finally they were on SALE... I love a good sale.

I like to describe them as a mix between wicked witch and cowboy. Don't worry I bought TWO pairs.

Cute Carter

This is my little brother Carter Paul, I shouldn't really say "little" though because he is bigger, taller, tougher and cooler than I am.

He graduated from Skyline High School this last week. The Family went out to dinner at Red Robin before graduation to celebrate. We love bottomless fries.

Carter is a nice brother and I like him because he is funny, has a killer smile, is great wakeboarder and he has dealt better than I would have with his torn ACL and missing his whole senior year of football.

LOVE YOU!!!

"M" is for...

MOM

Thank you mom for being my best friend,

For sharing diet Dr. Peppers and Cafe

Rio Salads,

For telling me when my bum doesn't look good in a pair of jeans,

For loving my wedding as much as I do,

For being a fabulous cook and passing the tradition on to me,

and for listening to me vent...all the time.

XOXOXO

(Bart's tribute)

I like my mom cuz she is nice, and cute, and helpful, and friendly, and smiley, and she has rosey cheeks. She is grrreat.

Plus she tells me that I'm not crazy and the world isn't out to get me.
She is my only mom - so that makes her even more extra special to me!

THANKS Mom!

The Top 10

What do you think about the new top 10 baby names? FYI, I'm not asking this because I am pregnant or looking for baby names :) I just find it interesting. I have an "original" name, which most people like... or at least they tell me that to my face. Thus, I have always been drawn to different names. If I HAD to chose a name from these lists I would probably go with Madison and Ethan. Please don't be offended if I didn't chose your name or your child's...I love each of you! :)

The latest Top 10 names for baby girls, based on 2008 statistics:
Emma
Isabella
Emily
Madison
Ava
Olivia
Sophia
Abigail
Elizabeth
Chloe

The Top 10 names for baby boys:
Jacob
Michael
Ethan
Joshua
Daniel
Alexander
Anthony
William
Christopher
Matthew