SUNSHINE is on my mind!

All I can think about lately is SUNSHINE and SUMMER! Ah I just dream about the warm sun on my face and sitting in a hot car after church just because it feels so GOOD!  I LOVE summer so much. I love being able to go outside day and night without being miserable! 

I miss my runs outside everyday and just people/house watching.  I miss my runners tan! I miss sitting outside with Jackson.  My dog loves the SUN just as much as I do if not more!  I miss camping.  Every week Ster and I kinda go crazy in our house.  I just wish it was warm out so we could head up into the mountains and play all weekend for super CHEAP!  I miss pretty green grass and large green shady trees! Oh, Ohio has the best tress.  I love to go home in the summer and visit my family.  Its so GREEN!! I miss the green in Ohio but I love the MOUNTAINS way more!  There is so much to do!

I can't wait till we can go on our spur of the moment trips.  Some of the best memories I have of being married is our TRIPS that we plan that day.  We have gone to Jackson, Glacier National Park, Yellow Stone, Missoula and Grand Tetons National Park.  So many sweet memories with my lover ah!!

This SUMMER will be filled with lots more of those special trips! 

On a daily basis I'm looking up fun vacations for us to go on.  I really want to go on an Alaskan Cruise.  I also want to go on a super adventurous vacation.  Like backpacking through a foreign country or a road trip back East. For now I will just DREAM.  

I love REXBURG summers! I have so many great memories with my lover in the PARK

Utah+CAMPING+family+yummy food=AMAZING

Sterling and I just love to BACKPACK!

The RANCH never disappoints!

Ohh I can't wait to listen to Britt....get some new shoes....soak up the SUN and RUN my little heart out!

 P.S. SUMMER PLEASE COME SOON!

I CAN DO IT

OK, I have to write down my goals for 2011 so I will follow through with them!

-Get in shape/lose10-15 pounds....I have gained weight since my days in rexburg

-Eat healthy...I have eaten more fruits this week then I think I did for all of 2010

-Follow Dave Ramsey's total money make over.....this to me is like another bible!  I love everything he teaches. Sterling and I will be out of debt in 2 years! Yes, bye bye student loans!

-Read my scriptures every day....I thought this would get easier when I got married....nope!

-make lots of money to help accomplish my Dave goal!

-make a baby....yes mer hah

-be better at staying in touch with family and friends

-become a blonde again

-become a Zumba instructor

These are my goals.....I have like a trillion more things that I need to do to better my self but I must start small!! Sorry if this is a boring post but if I write it down I'm more likely to follow through! I will get skinny and I will become a more fabulous me!

In this picture I was the skinniest I have ever been.....I was debt free.....I read my scriptures everyday...I had blonde hair......I ate veggies and fruit everyday! I will become this girl again well minus the tan and plus a cute hubby! Oh and I will go to Hawaii and relive this picture once I do all of these things!!!

Joy to the World

I forgot to post...oldie but still good!

I love Christmas! I'm such a fat kid....I look forward to all the parties with all the yummy treats!  Re-cap for Thanksgiving we went to the ranch in Provo.  We didn't get there until late Thanksgiving night....the poor cows got sick at Sters parents house and 5 of them died.  I felt bad for the poor little cows.  I hate when animals die and I was also sad that all the yummy meat went to waste! I love the meat that his parents give us! Its the best beef I have ever had!!! Any who Thanksgiving was good.  We played in the snow and did a little shopping.  I love to spend time with family.  I also got a chance to talk with Grandma Ercanbrack.  I love her.  She is so sweet.  We talked a lot about cooking.  That woman knows how to COOK!

The week after Thanksgiving was my 25th BIRTHDAY! YAHOO!  I wasn't sure what Ster was getting but he surprised me BIG! He bought us tickets to go to Arizona to visit Andrea! I have the best husband.  Two years ago Ster proposed to me on my birthday.... it was the best birthday ever.  Well I never thought that he would be able to top that experience  and he mostly likely never will because that was a once in a lifetime thing but he did come close. We left for AZ the next day.  I was so excited that we didn't have to go to work for the next week and that we would just get to play! We had a blast with Andrea and Paul.  They know how to show a good time to us Idahoans.  We went out to dinner lots, we went to a Suns  game, went to a Christmas carnival,  went to Sadona, and saw lots of pretty dessert.  We just had tons of fun together.

When we got back from our trip we only had to work one week before Christmas vacation.  I just couldn't wait to be off work again and have more fun with my hubby.  I was so excited to go snowboarding.  I got a new freakin sweet board and Ster got new skis.  I couldn't wait to try out my new ride.  I got a flying V Burton board.  I'm in love with it!

So here is how the weekend starts off.....My first day of Christmas vacation was on Friday.  I'm so happy...I don't have to work for two weeks! I have a great day doing not too much...cleaning the house....just chilling....well then I go do some errands.....then I go to get my oil changed.  Well I never saw it coming but this was the WORST oil change customer service experience that I have ever had!!!!! I call the Quick Loop to make sure I didn't get ripped off.  Then the lady precedes to tell that they also wash your windows and vacuum your car.  Um yeah now of that happened...so I went back to get it done.  The Manager tells me that my car is done.....I walk out....they vacuumed it but didn't clean the windows.  OK....REALLY! I drove back there to once again only get half the service that they told me they provided! So I poked my head in the door and as kindly as POSSIBLE I told him that they didn't clean my windows and as a customer I felt like I shouldn't have to ask them to do something that they offered! I told him that I didn't want to done.  He then freaked out at me telling me to leave.  He said even if I wanted the windows cleaned they refused to do it. I was shocked at this point as the man is yelling at me and shussing me out the door.  I told him that he needs to stop offering things to his customers that hes not willing to do.  I got my car held it together for about 3 seconds until i pulled out and then i just started crying out of CONTROL! REALLY MICHELLE! Yes i cried over an oil change and a man yelling at me.  I have gone crazy and may need to be taken to the loony bin.  The man was super rude....I was super mad and it was just so silly.  I have moved on and maybe in a few months I will laugh about this silly moment in my life that seemed like attack on Michelle Ercanbrack.

So once that event ended I went to work at the Nook.  I was still distrot about the events of the day but I was trying to keep it together.  I was serving this table of men.  They are all locals.  They just kept getting round after round after round.  Well they were all so drunk.  Fine they want to have a great time...well good for them.  Well then I got upset when I saw all of them leave and DRIVE away!  Yes, they all drove home drunk.  Normally in life I never really thought about drunk driving until I got the job with the school.  I'm constantly reading about drunk drives and all the damage that they do to themselves and others.  It has become such a sad thing to me that people are so selfish in this world.  That they risk other peoples lives because they don't want to call a cab or find another way home.   It just really bothered me.  Rough day i guess.

Saturday morning comes.  I was so excited because we were going up to the ski hill.  So we leave on the way Ster tells me someone stole 500 bucks from out account! Ok, back to  why are people so selffish.  I try not to think about it.  We get up the the mountain.  I go to put my snow pants on...oh wait I forgot them at home.  Ok, well I will rent some.  I try to find snow pants.  None! Ok, I'll get my new board mounted with my bindings.  Yeah they don't have the kit that I need to do it, so I can't mount my bindings.  OK....at this point Ster and I are at rock bottom.  Ster hates me but I hate myself even more.  We have been looking forward to riding since summer.  We are totally bummed.  We decide to go home and try another day.  On the way home Jedd told us how to mount my board a getto way.  We get home grab my pants and go back up to the hill.

Moral of the story.  Yes, it was a horrible 24 hours for me....but life does go on.  When we finally went on a run the attitude of the day totally changed.  None of the things that happened were important.  They were just little bumps along the way to help us see how lucky we are.  My life is so easy.  I'm healthy...I have the best hubby....I have a great family.....the gospel and I have everything that I need in life.  Yes, at times I think about what I don't have but really those things don't matter.  I so thankful that I have a best friend to share every moment with no matter if they are happy or sad.  They are great because I have him by my side.  I love you sugar!

The A-Frame Adventure

We had some visitors come to SALMON! We love when Jedd and Katie come to visit! They are so fun to play with! Once they got into town, we headed straight to the mountains.  We snowshoed 3 miles in the dark to a little A-Frame cabin in the mountains.  It was such a pretty night.  You could see stars for miles and the snow was fluffy white. It was also so fun just to talk .....talk .....talk and talk some more with Katie! I 'm pretty sure we never got sick of talking....while at least I didn't.  It took us like 2 hours to get to the cabin.  We also got a little lost along the way but we made it safely just in time for some din din and warm fire.  For dinner we ate yummy Elk steak, cheesey rice and then SCONES!!! The SCONES were so heavenly! I think they were the best scones I have ever had! We ate them with maple frosting....heart attack! After dinner we went to bed.  We slept in and then made some yummy breakfast.  Of course we made scones again. Just as good the second time around.  After breakfast we packed up and headed to the car. We made some play stops along the way of course.  It was so fun and it was great to know that we do have fun things to do in Salmon.  After our hike we decided to do another hike up to Gold Bug hot springs. That's about another 2 mile hike each way.  We really got our work out in for the day.  Ster and I went to these hot springs once in the summer but never in the winter.  It was super fun and the water felt 10 times better in the cold weather.  We finished the night off with some yummy pizza and root beer.  It was such a fun weekend.

Jackson got to ride in style.

Sterling is the best scone maker!

I loved this little cabin!

2010 Highlights

January- Move to Driggs to work at Grand Targhee with Katie and Jedd, become ski/snowboard bums for the winter

February- We bought a new PUPPY and named him Jackson, Sterling moved to Canada to drive bus for the Olympics, I watched lots of movies and cuddled with my pup, Went to AZ for Andrea and Paul's wedding

March- Sterling comes HOME, we played in the snow a lot,  went to Utah to played at the ranch and ride snowmobiles with family, We bought a new CAR

April- Our 1 year Anniversary,  ROAD TRIP to Cali and finished the trip off canyoneering in Utah with K + J, Jessica came home from her MISSION, We moved in with Sterling's Parents, Sterling turns 25

May- JOB hunting, I went to visit my family in OHIO and see my cousins new baby, went to some interviews for Sterling, went to Utah for Sara's wedding

June- Sterling got a job in SALMON, we moved into a house in Salmon,  I started working at the Shady Nook, Got called to be primary teachers


July- Katie, Jessica and Jedd came to Salmon to play for the Fourth, first time on the RIVER, I become a lab rat in Utah for money, went running everyday


August- Week long river trip down the middle Fork with Sterling's FAMILY, played with Jessica at the Boy Scout camp in North Fork, went to the Missoula fair, My sister had her sweet BABY Natalie, went Lagoon

September- Went on a HIKING trip with family in the Sawtooth Mountains, went to the Blackfoot FAIR, Jedd and Katie come home from Thailand, we went to Rexburg and went mountain biking with all of Sterling's siblings, I got a JOB as the Drug Free Coordinated for the school district, went Utah for Conference and played at the Ranch, last minute trip to GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

October- took a few high school kids to McCall for a leadership retreat, Put on a Halloween PARTY for the High School, visited family

November- Went to Utah for Thanksgiving and played at the RANCH, Went shopping on black Friday, went skiing at lost trail and then played in Missoula

December- I turn 25, Ster surprised with a trip to AZ, went Grand Targhee to visit K + J, went snowboarding in JACKSON, spent the holidays with Sterling's FAMILY, enjoyed time off work

We had such a fun year! We did so many fun things that I can't even remember them all!  Can't wait to make lots and lots of new memories for 2011!

DREAMS......

So I have so many dreams for my life here on earth!  At times I get super frustrated because my dreams can't come true when I want them too!   I can't wait till the day when I can become a mother....most of my thoughts are about having a baby! I use to never day dream about my children growing up but lately i almost look more forward to the days when I can just play and hang out with my kids.  When they have their own lives and their own opinions.  I'm sure when that day comes I will look back and think why did I look forward to this day again?!

My next big dream in life is to be a Photographer! I know I'm like every other Mormon girl out there. I have no idea if this is my true art in life but I can't wait to find out!  I have been dreaming about this for years now! I look at photographers for hours at a time. To me it is art and I can NEVER get enough!  I LOVE it!  I love the colors, the textures, the expressions on peoples faces, the stories that pictures tell, and how they make me feel something in side.  Its a passion that I have.  I look at Rebekah Westover Photography like everyday!  I LOVE HER!  I even got to watch her work atone  my besties weddings!  I told her how much I loved her work.....its like a have a crush on her cuz she is so FREAKIN good and i just love her style and crisp images.  I know this a random post but I just think about this all the time and its nice to put my thoughts on an empty canvas.  I dream of the day when we will be able to be out of debt and be able to buy THE camera I want! I know the day is coming soon and I get so excited/nerves just thinking about it.  Will I be good at this....will I really enjoy it or is just something that i dream about to fill my mind.  I really don't like to tell people I want to do Photography because I usually don't get the most positive response.  I understand that everyone wants to do it but that doesn't mean everyone is good at it and I really believe deep down that I may have a chance to be good at it!  Even if I'm not that good at it...I will love it and I know that I will have my supporters who like what I do because they LOVE ME!

The third thing i dream about all the time is traveling and seeing new places.  Oh how I love to TRAVEL!  I also found myself spending hours on the computer looking up places to go and cheap vacations.  I just can never get enough!  The other day Sterling and I were talking about how I have some money on my credit card that we are trying to pay off.  Well its from my trip to Europe.  When I bought my ticket i was still in school and of course i just didn't have 1,000 bucks laying around so naturally I used my credit card.  To me i can't put a price tag on the trip so i of course did it with out a 2nd thought.  Sterling asked me if I regretted that trip!  I told him I would have done it the same way every time.  That trip was  a once in a life time trip.  I had the time of my life and I will never forget that trip with Andrea.  Plus I told him it helped me realize that I was in LOVE with him!  Traveling is just one of my passions!  I love to look at all the different places and all the colors and people!  Uh I want to hop on a plane now!  Plus I want to travel so I can take a billion pictures of

new things and always have those pictures to look at forever!

I hope someday we will be able to go to Thai Land.  I want to go with Jedd/Katie, Sterlings parents plus any other siblings that would love to join.  Jedd and Morgan served their missions here.  It would be so fun to all go together.  Family trip! I was sad that we didn't get to go with Jedd and Katie when they went this last summer but it was just horrible timing for us. One day this trip WILL happen.

I want to go to NYC so bad.  Ok I have to confess.....I love Gossip Girl....yes trash i know.  But i can't help but want to put on my cutest coat, cloves, hat/head band (oh i love Blair's cute accessories), scarf and take in all the holiday spirit of NYC.  Oh and I'm dying to go to a Broadway show....WICKED!

Greence was the one place I was so sad that we didn't get to go here when we were Europe.  It was far and we just didn't have the time.  One day Ster and I will go here!

I will stay in one of these huts! I dream about Bora Bora all the time.  It didn't make life easier when they went here in the movie Couples Retreat and with the Bachelorette. I was drooling the entire time I watched these.....it was hard to focus on the show and not the gorgeous sites!

I would love to HIKE HIKE HIKE  and then HIKE some more in New Zealand.  The outdoors here just look amazing.  I would to take a back pack trip through the mountains with my hubby here.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED ITALY.  I want to go back so Sterling can see how amazing it is for himself and not have to listen to me gab about it.  I know he would love it as much as I do.  It would be so fun to eat gelato and get lost together. Oh and maybe since i have more money i can eat more than just pizza and pizza and pizza and fruit.

Oh I dream about how beautiful and relaxing Hawaii is.  I want to go back so bad.  I'm pretty sure i have planned at least 10 different trips to go back but one day it will work out.  I will get to show Sterling why i fell in LOVE with Hawaii!

Paul is one lucky man...Andrea is the best travel companion ever! These video's show why we always had so much fun traveling together! I just love this girl! Plus when i decided to eat a snack bag of Oreo's for lunch that i stole from Lake Powell since i had no money.....Yes Andrea pulls out a can of Tuna which she too brought with her! We were meant to be friends for eternity!

For now I will just dream.  My day will come.  I just wounder what I will get first.....a camera or a baby in my belly? Um its fun to think about what is to come in my life but I also need to slow down and enjoy the life that I'm living now.  Heavenly Father has a plan for us and I know in due time if its right I will get to do all the things I dream about!  I just need to focus on my great life now!  I have a bad habit of looking forward to the future and not enjoying my life while I'm living it!  So i will enjoy my time here in Salmon and I will love every minute of it!

Fall Fall Fall

So I have been LOVING the weather this Fall! It's been so nice and way warmer here in Salmon then in Rexburg! So things have been great!  I got a job at the High School/Middle School.  I'm the Drug Free Coordinator for the district. Yes,  I will explain.  I do drug tests,  I plan events to keep the kids out of trouble, I have lunch duty everyday at the Middle School,  and I plan drug free assemblies and events through out the year.  That's pretty much what I do.  I don't mind the job...its not what I went to school for but I'm so thankful that I have something!!! Its so hard to find anything in this town!  Oh and I also have health insurance for the first time since college, that is a definite perk! Sterling said now he can sleep at night knowing that if something terrible happens to me we won't go thousands of dollars into debt. Sterling has been loving his job. He loves working in the OR. He has been going into surgerys the last few weeks and he's loving all the things that he's learning with the doctors.  He is also taking a course through the hospital that teaches about the OR and all the instruments he needs to know. He's hoping to move somewhere after this job and work in the OR as a first assistant nurse.  

This last weekend we went to Rexburg.  Now that we live in such a small town I have so much love for Rexburg! When we lived there I couldn't get out fast enough.  I was so ready to get out of the college scene and I just wanted something new.  I love Salmon it has its positives but it also has its negatives.  I mean living 150 miles from the nearest city/Walmart is a little far for me.  Since we have lived here we have left at least every other weekend.  Lately we have been staying home on weekends.  It gets old traveling and we have really enjoyed just hanging out together, relaxing at our house.  Don't get me wrong though I still love leaving our little town.  We love going out to eat and seeing a movie.  We also love going to Rexburg to hang out with Ster's sisters.  Its so fun having 3 of them living there.  It would be so fun to be living there now with all of them there.  I miss Rexburg now that I don't live there.  I have so many great memories in that town.  Some of the funniest moments in my life have been in that town.  I have such a special place in my heart for BYU-I.  It's such a special place! Every time we go to Rexburg I start telling stories to Ster and then I start dreaming about my life when I was a student! He always makes fun of me cuz I do it every time we go back there.  I also have such a love for the Rexburg temple! Its so beautiful and I just love that now that I'm married I get to go inside the most special places on earth!

So not much else is going on here in Salmon.  We are looking forward to the holidays and the SNOW!! Ah we both just got new gear for the snow season.  I got the coolest new board and I can't wait to take it down the mountain! Ster got new boots and powder skis.  I hope we get lots of good snow this year! We hope to go every weekend! Ah I never thought I would be one of those people who love it when it snows! What has Sterling's family done to me! I just can't wait for the snowboard season and those pow days!!!  

Saturday hike....such a pretty place....about an hour from our house.

On the bottom of the mountain....till this point easy hike...after this point straight up

 Family backpack trip...missing a few.  We went hiking at the Big Horn Crags.  
There were lakes everywhere.

This place was one of my favorite hikes I've been on.  The rocks were 
sweet and the land scape was so interesting!

So pretty....after this a storm came in.  Wouldn't be a holiday weekend in Idaho without horrible weather.  It was hailing rocks and freezing!  Our trip got cut short cuz it was so COLD.

My first FISHY!!!!!  Yum I was so excited. I even cleaned out his guts.

Our camp site on harbor lake

Our house on Halloween...and the only picture I have of my brown hair.

On the lake in McCall.  We took some kids from the high school to a retreat.  What a beautiful town.  I loved it....it was like a small Sun Valley or Park City.  Way cool vibe town.