Remember Notes: # 1

I read this fun little book Titled The Icing on the Cake! It was a cute sometimes cheesy little story but from it I felt inspired to keep a note book and make little notes about people who have inspired me! (that is what the main character does). In the book the girl titles her's, pinknotes because she uses a pink note book, well I have been trying to think of my own name and then tonight I was randomly reading in Helaman5 and Helaman told his sons Lehi and Nephi to remember their ancestors from whom they were named. The word Remember just stuck out to me and reminded me funny enough of many things. A few of which include:

1. When I was in seminary which was over 10 years ago, I remember a lesson where the teacher tried to stress the importance of the word remember. At that time I had a close family member who had made some pretty crazy and sad choices and I remember thinking, if only he would remember! Remember who he was, remember those still quiet moments where I know he gained a testimony. I wanted to run home and just call him and yell Remember, Remember your childhood and all the things you experienced on your mission!

2. The second thing I thought of was all of the amazing people in my life who I have had the privilege of meeting. I just went to my 10 yr. High School Reunion and have thus been doing a lot of reminiscing. I had the most amazing friends in high school and without them I know I would not be where I am today.

3. Lastly and I can't remember exactly where I heard this, I think from an institute class but it could have been during a general conference. Anyways, some apostle stated that the word remember is the most important word and commandment!

So after thinking about these things I thought I am going to name my notes Remember Notes: People who I want to always remember because they have inspired me. I have decided to share a few of these people with you and hopefully you will be inspired by them as well!

Remember Note # 1: Becky Ellis

Why she is noteworthy: I first met Becky in elementary school when she was my movement teacher (Miss Becky) and would have us run around the gym jumping over hula hoops while calling out our favorite ice cream. Years later, I was blessed to become friends with Becky's daughter Andee and in the process I got to know Miss Becky all over again! She was not just Andee's mom, but basically our entire groups Mom, we all loved hanging out with Becky and talking with her! She was always happy to have a bunch of high school kids taking over her house every Tuesday night and weekends. The past few years Becky has given me great advice and was even a military wife as well, she has lived in Hawaii and gave birth to her 4th child at Tripler the same hospital Kai was born!

Sadly, Becky was stricken with cancer and lost her battle a few weeks ago. I pray for her family and know that this world and many young people have been touched by Becky's love. As her daughter said "Becky is the life of the party, things just won't be the same with out her."

Eat Local Food Challenge

My favorite food blog Rookie Cookie posted this challenge a few weeks back and I thought it was a really good one so I am passing it on to all of you! Plus this blog has some really great recipes, a few of my favorites are Michelle's Sesame Chicken which I make a lot, Pan-roasted chicken thighs with garlic Thyme Cream Sauce except I use CK Breasts and for those of you at my B-day party this is where I got the recipe for the Zuchini Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting.
You can read about the challenge and at the end she made a list of her favorite local restaurants. I have made my own list for Hawaii and a few from Utah and are at the end of the post!

I am issuing a challenge and I want you to take this seriously. Pass on the challenge. Post it on your blog. Tell your mom and challenge her.

I give you permission to take the above graphic when you post about this on your blog, cuz I know you are.

What's my challenge? I want you to eat local. I want you to support your locally-owned restaurants. Not corporately-owned, locally-owned. You know, the people who are worrying about the success of their restaurant that supports their family. We are in a recession and they are taking a hit.

I'll probably get a nasty e-mail because I am discouraging your patronage to big chain places like Applebee's, Wendy's and Macaroni Grill. But I don't care. I hate the thought of a hidden treasure going under because they don't have the extra cash to pay for big time advertising.

So next time you go out, go local. Try that neighborhood burger joint or the local pizzeria. It takes a lot of guts and passion to open a restaurant. You can help fuel that passion by patronizing your local restaurants.

To help my peeps out, here are two lists of local places that I know are good and I am so sure I missed a few. I have two locations for you. Southern California and Utah Valley. Each is linked to a map of it's location on Google Maps. Don't pay attention to any bad reviews. I wouldn't post these places if I had had a bad experience there. You don't know the people who posted reviews on there, but you know me and you can trust me. If you have any local places you like where you live, add it in the comments.

Once again, let me try and convince you further to patronize your local eateries. Not only will you be supporting your local economy, but you are also supporting hard working, passionate American families and neighbors.

Southern California:
Los Jarritos in Pomona, CA
Foscari Italian Cuisine in Anaheim Hills, CA
Donut Man in Glendora, CA
B & J Family Restaurant in Glendora, CA
Afloat Sushi in Pasadena, CA
Grand Burger in Glendora, CA
TJ's Subs in Glendora, CA
Rojus Cookie House in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Que Pasa in Chino Hills, CA
Apple Pan in Los Angeles, CA
The Deli in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Utah Valley:
Diamond Grill in Salem, UT
Mi Ranchito in Orem, UT
Gloria's Little Italy in Provo, UT
Glade's Drive Inn in Spanish Fork, UT
Cow's Creamery in Park City, UT
Terra Mia in Orem, UT

Sukura Japanese Grill in Orem, UT

Sammy's Cafe in Provo, UT
Pizzaria 712 in Orem, UT
Fat Jack's Pizza in Payson, UT
Dalton's in Payson, UT
Sweet Tooth Fairy in Provo, UT
The Red Iguana in Salt Lake City, UT

Gina's Picks

Hawaii:
Boots N Kimos(The best pancakes on the island hands down)
The Olive Tree(greek food)
All the Thai restaurants but our favs are:
Champa Thai
Phuket Thai
Haliewa Eats
Siam Gardens
The Thai Chuck Wagon(which isn't the really name but it is up with the shrimp trucks on the north shore and has seriously the best thai on the island according to Jared)
Dirty Lickens (wings)
Lani Kai Juice( Yummy smoothies and acai bowls)
Little Village( Chinese food)
El Marriachi(Mexican of course)
Bostons Pizza
Big Kahuna's Pizza
Kakaako Kitchen(my first favorite place, healthier hawaiian)
Lilihau Bakery and Cafe
Basta Pasta




Utah: Mainly Salt Lake Area
One world Cafe(you pay what you think the meal was worth! Seriously! Their belief is that no one should go hungry)
The Red Iguana(Mexican like you have never had before)
Thai Siam
The Pie(Pizza)
Wings n Things( if you know if this place is still open please let me know)
Asian Star
Neilsons Frozen Custard( so yummy I wish I could get some right now)
Fat's Pool Hall( Great food and you get to play pool)
Zubs(sandwhiches-springville)

Birthdays!

(Jared made the cake for me completely from scratch and it was super Delicious!)
I had my 29th Birthday this past Sunday! I can't believe that I am already in my last year of my twenties! My twenties were amazing. I went to college, dated lots of guys, met some really amazing people, traveled across the U.S. and Europe, graduated from college, moved to Hawaii, got married and had a little squirt!! Who would have ever thought I would have done all that definitely not me!

I had a really great Birthday this year mainly it was just nice that Jared was actually home for it and that Kailie was here to share it with me. Jared, Kai and I went downtown Friday night for a nice dinner on the beach and for those of you who know Jared know that he HATES downtown (Waikiki) so it was a big deal that he went willingly for my birthday. Saturday we went to the Air Force Thunderbirds airshow (really cool pictures to come later) and just hung out at our friends house on base all day with a group of friends. That night we had a surprise party for our friend Sean who shares the same birthday as me.
Here we all are hiding in the bounce house waiting to surprise him, it was pretty funny to have so many of us in there, this is only half of the group!
Birthday Boy Sean as he pulled up to his surprise party in his sweet pink bike helmet and new birthday bike!On Sunday night the day of my actual Birth we had everyone over for Desert! Sadly it was the last time that we will all be together since the West's are leaving this week! I don't like how everyone always has to move away, can't we all just live by each other forever!!
And all of these pictures were brought to you by my awesome birthday gift that I got a few months early the Canon Rebel T1i which is amazing!
Happy Birthday to Me and Sean! Horray for Birthdays because they give a chance to party with friends and eat desert!!


Recipe for this cake found here

Double Digits

Kailie is officially in the double digits now the big 10 months! She changes so much every month I can't believe it, it seems as though everyday she learns something new! We started out the month in Utah and Kailie had so much fun going to Lake Powell and visiting family and friends.

When we left Hawaii to go to Utah Kai was barely sort of crawling and when we got home it was like crazy because with in the first hour she was exploring and into everything. She learned how to stand up on her own the first day we were home. The above photo is her first time accomplishing this!

She crawled under the bed

and into the shower all within the first few hours we were home. I definitely knew that I needed to immediately baby proof the apartment!

She learned to stand in her crib and cry during nap time. I really miss my little baby that could only lay there! We had to lower her crib as well since now she was able to fall out with it being higher up!

She started sitting up in the bath tub which definitely makes it harder to clean her little body and she also tries to stand up but that always ends with her slipping and falling down.

She finally got to try out her high chair at home, she seems to like it! And she can give herself a drink a water, such a big girl thing to do!

We have not weighed her since July but we are guessing she is around 16 lbs. She loves to eat her shoes instead of wearing them!

We took her swimming to our pool and the whole walk home she just stayed in this position. It was so stinking cute that we just had to share!

She loves to play in the bathroom and tries to get her bath toys out of the bath. She is still a bit wobbly on those legs!

She got her teeth brushed for the first time and she loves it. She thinks it is just a fun toy to chew on, of course. My friend Mykel nicknamed her vampire because she loves to bite and is always trying to bite everybody!

This is our favorite thing she has learned. We call it her Klingon face because she looks like the Klingon's from Star trek. For a few weeks right after we got home from Utah she did this face constantly, it was so funny!

Just a super cute face!

One of Kailie's favorite new activities is to get in her laundry basket and pull everything out and then do it all over again and again until oopsthis happens.
One day she was in doing her laundry thing and I was in the other room. When I walked into my room I find her like this and she didn't cry until she saw me. It was so funny, apparently she had pulled the thing over and got trapped underneath it. I let her stay that way for awhile to see if she could get it off herself but after a few minutes she just go really mad.

I am so sad that only two more months and she will not be my little baby anymore, she is growing so fast! I feel like I can't enjoy her enough! But it is also so fun and exciting to watch her grow and learn new things and experience things for the first time. Especially new foods, she is not supposed to have any sugar or deserts until she is one but the other night we were at a friends house and they had baked cookies and their daughter who is just over a year either gave a cookie to Kai or left in on the floor but either way we look down and the little cookie monster was eating a cookie! Little stinker at least it was just a few bites. Just a taste for her of what is in store for her in the future!

My Paradise!

I bet you thought from the title that I was talking about Hawaii but nope this is my Paradise and if you have never been here then I insist that at some point in your life you go!! This place is the perfect vacation for young and old and everyone in between! If you don't know what this place is then you definitely better get with it because it is none other the fabulous, amazing, beautiful, funtastic Lake Powell!! If you ever want to visit this awesome place you are welcome to come with us!

(Kai helping my dad captain the houseboat!)
I have been going to Lake Powell my whole life! My parents bought the above pictured houseboat when I was five and we've used it 2- 3 times per year ever since! Over the years we have had many a crazy trips down, including motor homes tipping over, ski boats going up cliffs(seriously up the cliff), waterfalls coming down onto the houseboat, etc... But thankfully we have never had any serious accidents. My years at Powell have gone from playing on the sand and being the babies of the group, to chasing hundreds of boys during my crazy adolescent and young single adult years to finally this year having my own little baby to share my paradise with!
I was so excited this year to have Kai there and let her experience Lake Powell. Unfortunately we didn't have the greatest camp spot for babies ie. no beach, no shallow water and cold water from being the shade most of the day! Here is Kai's first time in the water as you can tell she didn't love it, she probably hated the life jacket more than the water temp.
Skiers paradise! For us Powell is all about good food, good friends, good games and above waking up at sunrise to get the best water for water skiing! This is how it was most of the time, pristine water, Heaven!!
I love this photo only because Kailie looks like one of those porcelain dolls!! You have to click on it to get the full effect!
After water skiing, tubing is my next favorite activity! I love it and would have to admit that I am pretty good at it! Kailie seemed to like it too!
You definitely cannot go to Powell and not play games it is just part of the experience!

Just chilling in the water! My good friends Sadie and Cory came with their sweet little guy Isaak! He loved this baby water toy! Sadly, both Sadie and Cory lost their wedding rings to the big lake! I just told them it was meant to be!
Ava and Kailie playing together! Ava is my cousin more like sister's daughter! They are going to be great buddies just like their mom's! Ava was Kai's exact age last year at Powell just a little bit chunkier!
This is Ava last year, the funniest thing is that she wore the same swimsuit this year!
This is what you get when you try to line up three naked babies for a photo!
The best way to get a child to sleep! Put them in a moving boat! Works every time!
Now of course, it wouldn't be a true lake Powell experience unless somethings breaks down, this year it was the generator but we had a back-up. You definitely don't see Jared doing this very often, he is not a mechanic at all!


This is just too great not to share! At the end of the week we had to clean out the generator hull which was full of oil, Jared volunteered and my dad volunteered his swim trunks that he has had I think my whole life!
And this is what happens when you have three babies and 20 people all sleeping in same place! We were pretty tired at the end due to 3 babies all waking up at various times through out the night!

And those same babies always waking up with a smile on their faces cause man they sure slept great!!
Oh and by the way, I was serious about coming along with us! We are always looking for new people to come and we love to get to see and spend time with friends!

A Great Lady!

A few weeks ago I wrote a post that I will share later but in it I talked about this great woman and how she has influenced my life. She was like a second mom to me! Sadly she passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. I was talking with her daughter who is one of my best friends from high school before Becky passed away and she was telling me how her mom has a button that she wears that says I Hate Cancer! Well, I Hate Cancer too, I hate that it has taken away so many great people! I have too many friends in my life who have lost loved one's to cancer!

Becky was truly an amazing woman, she was a great mom to us all and her and her husband have the greatest love story! I am so sad for her family, especially her daughter Andee (my good friend) who is expecting her first child in a few weeks! Why do bad things happen to good people, why can't it be just the bad people who have the bad things happen to them? I guess that is what will be so great about the next life! No more cancer! No more losing loved ones! No more having to say goodbye!

Rebecca Firmage Ellis

Aug. 6, 1953 ~

Aug. 29, 2009

Beloved Rebecca (Becky) Firmage Ellis, 56, died Saturday, August 29, 2009 at home, following a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born August 6, 1953 in Kingsport, Tenn. to Margaret Felt and D. Allan Firmage and moved with her family to Provo, Utah when she was two years old.

Becky married her true love and best friend Kelly Taylor Ellis, on December 27, 1975 in the Provo, LDS Temple and they were blessed with five devoted children.

She was a graduate of Provo High School and earned both a bachelor's and master's degree from Brigham Young University in dance and later a EdD from BYU in Educational Leadership.

In Becky's life her family always came first. She loved being a wife and a mother and was definitely the biggest cheerleader for each of her five children and four grandchildren as she supported and encouraged them to develop their individual strengths and talents.

Throughout her life she was able to balance family responsibilities and fun, with her love of dance and creative movement as she taught Children's Dance at BYU, and Academics Through Movement for Elementary Education students at UVU. She especially loved teaching the BOYS Dance classes which she did for 18 years at BYU. In June of this year she took eight of her BOYS to New York City and with them presented at the National Dance Educator's Organization. Becky demonstrated how to teach boys to use their creativity, rhythm and strength in dance and still allow themselves to be boys.

She was a faithful member of the LDS Church and had served as a Young Women's President, counselor in the Stake Young Women's Organization, Relief Society President, Activities Committee Chair, Webelos leader, and most importantly, a loving Visiting Teacher. She had a strong testimony of the gospel and eternal families.

Becky is survived by her husband, Kelly, children Jake (Cindy), Chet (Laura), Andee (Spencer) Bott, Clay, and Elder Michael (Mick) Ellis (currently serving in the Mexico, Monterey West Mission of the LDS Church), 4 grand-daughters, Aubrey, Taylor, Avery, and Ireland, one soon-to-be grandson Mason (due Sept. 18), her father, D. Allan Firmage, sisters, Kathy Campbell (Kailua, HI), Jeri Walton (Alpine, UT), Nita Price (Reno, NV), and brothers, Richard (Kaysville, UT), and Ron (Orem, UT). She was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Felt Firmage.

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Dr. William Reese and Dr. Nathan Rich and their staffs for their loving care during her eight year battle.

Those wishing to contribute to a book honoring Becky can do so by going to www.memorypress.com/start. Use ID: Ellis Password: Becky

Funeral service will be held Saturday, September 5th at 1:00 p.m. in the Oak Hills Stake Center, 925 E. North Temple Dr., Provo. Visitations will be held on Friday evening, Sept. 4th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 85 East 300 South, in Provo and on Saturday from 11:00-12:30 at the Oak Hills Stake Center prior to the services.

Remember Notes

I read this fun little book Titled The Icing on the Cake! It was a cute sometimes cheesy little story but from it I felt inspired to keep a note book and make little notes about people who have inspired me! (that is what the main character does). In the book the girl titles her's, pinknotes because she uses a pink note book, well I have been trying to think of my own name and then tonight I was randomly reading in Helaman5 and Helaman told his sons Lehi and Nephi to remember their ancestors from whom they were named. The word Remember just stuck out to me and reminded me funny enough of many things. A few of which include:

1. When I was in seminary which was over 10 years ago, I remember a lesson where the teacher tried to stress the importance of the word remember. At that time I had a close family member who had made some pretty crazy and sad choices and I remember thinking, if only he would remember! Remember who he was, remember those still quiet moments where I know he gained a testimony. I wanted to run home and just call him and yell Remember, Remember your childhood and all the things you experienced on your mission!

2. The second thing I thought of was all of the amazing people in my life who I have had the privilege of meeting. I just went to my 10 yr. High School Reunion and have thus been doing a lot of reminiscing. I had the most amazing friends in high school and without them I know I would not be where I am today.

3. Lastly and I can't remember exactly where I heard this, I think from an institute class but it could have been during a general conference. Anyways, some apostle stated that the word remember is the most important word and commandment!

So after thinking about these things I thought I am going to name my notes Remember Notes: People who I want to always remember because they have inspired me. I have decided to share a few of these people with you and hopefully you will be inspired by them as well!

Remember Note # 1: Becky Ellis

Why she is noteworthy: I first met Becky in elementary school when she was my movement teacher (Miss Becky) and would have us run around the gym jumping over hula hoops while calling out our favorite ice cream. Years later, I was blessed to become friends with Becky's daughter Andee and in the process I got to know Miss Becky all over again! She was not just Andee's mom, but basically our entire groups Mom, we all loved hanging out with Becky and talking with her! She was always happy to have a bunch of high school kids taking over her house every Tuesday night and weekends. The past few years Becky has given me great advice and was even a military wife as well, she has lived in Hawaii and gave birth to her 4th child at Tripler the same hospital Kai was born!

Sadly, Becky was stricken with cancer and lost her battle a few weeks ago. I pray for her family and know that this world and many young people have been touched by Becky's love. As her daughter said "Becky is the life of the party, things just won't be the same with out her."

Remember Note #2: Justin Stubbs

Why he is noteworthy: When I was a sophomore in college I remember thinking about who the happiest people I had met were. Justin who was a friend from High School was at the top of the list! Justin grew up in a humble home. His dad was a custodian for the church and Justin did most if not all of his clothes shopping at DI. I think a lot of us would be down about this but Justin turned it into a positive thing and made his own style. He was always happy and looking for ways to help others laugh, but never at the expense of someone else! He is a true testament that money does not equal happiness and is still one of the happiest people I've met!

Remember Note # 3: Ben Wilson

Why he is noteworthy: Ben was number 2 on my list of the happiest people I have met! I met Ben up at Utah State where we lived in the same building! Ben too, came from a humble home. I remember looking in his closest once and all there was were two sweaters, a couple of t-shirts, a couple pairs of shorts and pants and that was it! And yet Ben would have gladly given you the shirt off his back, even if it was his only one! One night he offered to give a girl a ride down to Utah County 2 hours away in an old car and definitely with gas money that he did not have and it wasn't even a girl he had interest in. He was just always there to help but also he was always there to have a good time and help make other people's lives happier and better!

Remember Note# 4: Excel Expedition Kids

Why they are noteworthy: During college I had the great privilege of working for a program called Excel Expedition. The program took kids who were from underprivileged homes but were still good kids and taught them leadership and excellence skills in the mountains for three weeks. I learned so much from every kid, they all had been through more than most of us will in our lifetimes and yet they were still happy! Some were adopted, some were foster children, some came from single parent families, some were abused, etc. But those kids taught me what is important in life and helped me realize how blessed I am, how much I have been given. I think of Judy, a young 11 year old girl who did not have a home, but was passed around from foster family to foster family! I ask you all to just stop for a moment and think about that! Can you imagine what it would be like not to have a home or a family. I know we all have family problems but at least we have a family! And you know what, even with all that Judy was still able to smile! These kids inspired me to someday open up my own program, to continue to help kids just like them!

Remember Note # 5: Sister Williams

Remember Note #6: Albert

Remember Note # 7: Sadie Knutsen

Remember Note # 8: Sharon Jeppeson

Remember Note #9: Ed

Remember Note # 10: Boy who testified during sacrament meeting

Remember Note #11: O come all ye faithful Testimony giver

Remember Note # 12: Courtney from EE's Mom

Remember Note # 13:Jarom Taylor

Remember Note # 14:Brock Henderson

Remember Note # 15: Nic Haws

Remember Note # 16 Joe Pike

Remember Note # 17 The german

Remember Note # 18 Ethan Jensen








Remember Note #19 Cameo Redd








Remember Note # 20 Alex Boye