Seeg Family Reunion 2009!

I have been really blessed to be a Seegmiller and am so grateful that even with 70 people and counting, we are all able to stay in touch. I know so many people who barely know their cousins names because they don’t get the opportunity to spend much time with them but I have had the privilege of getting to see them on a pretty regular basis, keep up with them all thanks to technology and have had the honor of being there to welcome new babies, celebrate marriages and be a part of their lives. I love that every year since I can remember we have spent Thanksgiving down in St. George with at least 40 Seeg’s; that whenever there is a major event in any of our lives, you can expect to see almost everyone there supporting you and that every 2 years on Labor Day we all get together for a 3 day family reunion.

For the past 20 plus years, the siblings have planned the family reunion but a few years ago, they decided the kids were old enough to plan it, so families started taking turns. This year it was my family’s turn to plan it, which really meant it was mine and Mike’s turn (along with a lot of help from Rod and my mom). Since our family has gotten so large, it’s been a bit of a challenge finding a house that will sleep all of us, but I was determined to find a place. I ended up finding an amazing lodge in the middle of nowhere, Altamont, UT. Although Altamont isn’t the most desirable place in the world, the lodge MORE than made up for it. It was ginormous, had a bed for everyone, was equipped with a pool, a hot-tub, a huge grassy area, a rock-climbing wall, a basketball court, a game room, a gourmet kitchen, a huge living area where we could all hang out, two ponds, boats and pretty much anything else you could need or want.

We spent 3 wonderful days catching up, eating tons of wonderful food, swimming, playing rock band, geo-cashing, rock climbing, sleeping, playing games, watching a great BYU game, laughing and just being together as a family. Only about 8 people were unable to come due to illness and missions so we had a full house! We missed the ones who were not there but were thrilled so many were able to be there to make this reunion one of the best yet. Even my 94 year old Grandpa made the trek from St. George and it was great to see him in such good spirits. Can’t wait to see everyone for Turkey Day and for the Batt family reunion in 2011!

The line of Seegs!

Canoeing with Jonas and Mesa.

Rhett the Rock-climber!

During the BYU game!
Batt Rockband! Mmm... Food!Grandpa and Matt from Mexico!Hair train.Sariah and Mesa
Cody on a computer? SHOCKING! :)During the Geo-cashingLittle Known Facts...Uncle Dee cooking up some ribs!The LovebirdsThe RiccisKortniMike playing Cub in the semi-finals. An 8-month Pregnant Lindsey beat him though!
Gymnastics time!
Justin, Sariah, Suki and DonnieNate and I

My mom and Rod. Thanks for all your help!

Mah Be and I

Although the reunion was awesome, it didn't help my baby hunger one bit! There are SO many cute babies in the Seegmiller family and more coming! I was realllllllly spoiled with lots of baby time and you rarely saw me that weekend without a child. It just made me realize how much I can't wait to be a mom. I mean just look at these kids, and that's only half of them! Thanks for letting me steal your kids everyone!

Lizzie and MesaRemingtonMesa and IJonas, Cairo and MesaPizza time!Hot-tubbing!Lizzie is so cute!Me and mah lil buddy Mesa!Cohen had so much fun swimming!Smiley PiperBridger and I, the youngest Seeg until last week. Look at that hat!Lizzie wanted to go swimming SO bad!Our little bookworm JonasMesa, Bekah and EmilyRootbeer is GOOD!

Thanks Grandpa for making ALL of these memories possible. We love you!

New Moon Pre-screen

Want to go to a prescreen of New Moon at 8:30 pm on 11/19 at Jordan Commons?!? My friend Hannie along with the girls of Private Design are putting on the best New Moon Event in town complete with raffles, gift certificates, treats and lots of vampire love! Go to www.newmoonmovienight.blogspot.com for ticket info and more details! I went last year for Twilight and it was definitely the best party in town! I am happy to pick up tickets for anyone who needs them, just let me know!

Football Love!

5 Years ago I never would have guessed that I would love football as much as I do. I have always understood it to a point and enjoyed watching a game or two but my love for it really grew when we became members of the Utah Season Ticket Crew last season, ventured down to New Orleans to watch The Utes play in the sugar bowl and experienced the udder rush of them defeating the Crimson Tide. Since then I have been impatiently waiting for football season to start and am excited it’s finally here. I have spent the past three weekends watching way too much football thanks to The RedZone and have noticed way too many conversations turning to football stats and what happened during the weekend game. To top it off, the Utah season is finally really beginning and I will be spending many of the coming Saturdays routing on the Utah Utes. So since football is my newest passion, I decided I would share my thoughts and teams with whoever cares to know! Here it goes...

I prefer college football because it’s much more entertaining to watch and I love that every game actually means something. I think Sam Bradford is kind of a baby and am sick of hearing the announcers say that BYU won solely because Sam Bradford was injured. BYU is great this year and as much as I hate to say it, they are doing better than Utah. Utah tends to stoop down to the level of the opposing team and games they should have easily won have been nail-biters. I still love the Utes though and hope they continue to have a good season. Either way, I just hope TCU, BYU or Utah makes it to a big bowl game to show that the Mountain West is just as good as the Pac 10 or any other big school out there.

For out of state teams, I route for Oklahoma State University because I know #72, Andrew Mitchell and want to see him do well. I will also route for Texas for Ashley and the Tide because I thought they were very gracious and I liked their fans. I also like Florida because of Urban Meyer and like to see them do well. It’s going to be interesting to see if the Tide stays on top this year. My other fave team is Florida State but it’s a bit vain because I just think their quarterback Christian Ponder is super hot. Plus, he is articulate, intelligent AND we share a birthday! Who cares if he is 3 years younger?!? Here is a pic for you all to drool over…

As for the NFL, my teams are The Redskins, The Colts and my fave are the Saints. I am really hoping to see The Saints in the Superbowl this year because I really think they deserve it, especially after that game with The Giants last weekend. I just appreciate what good sports they are, the talent and character both Reggie Bush and Drew Brees possess and I like seeing the spirit of New Orleans as they play. Plus, I really like how much the Saints, as a team, have done to rebuild the city and anyone who helps New Orleans gets a gold star in my book.

So, that is my football rave. I will leave you with GO UTES and GO SAINTS!!! Can’t wait to FINALLY go to a game tomorrow!

"If you get a chance, take it, if it changes your life, let it."

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it."

After my somber post about my job loss, I began processing what an amazing chance this change really is and was feeling really good about the transition. Then some interesting events took place...

First off, I want to thank everyone for your complete support and comfort during this hard time for me. I have been amazed at the friends I have and the kind words each and every one of you have said.

I have become so comfortable at my job and while it has been good to me and has allowed me to be successful, my heart has never fully been here. All I can ever remember saying since I was 13 is that I want to be a wife, a mom and volunteer. A few days after I found out that it was a possibility I may lose my job, I wandered into Sharing Place for my Wednesday volunteer group. Well, when there are 5 Wednesdays in a month, we skip the fifth one because it becomes too confusing for the families and throws off the next month. Since my mind wasn't fully there that day, I didn't realize there was no group until I walked inside and crashed a team meeting.

Now normally I would have just said hi and left but Stephanie, the director, invited me to indulge in some wine and dinner and asked if I would like to stay for the team meeting. I felt this pull to stay there and since I am really good friends with most of the TSP staff and Mike was working late, I decided I would join them. Little did I know what doors this team meeting would actually open. After all business was attended to, the girl who has done the Family Interviews for the past 6 years anounced she no longer could continue doing them. As soon as she said that, all eyes turned to me and I realized why I was asked to stay. I have been interested in doing intakes for a long time because I believe it's truly a gift to be the first person who doesn't flinch when being told of a families grief and to have the honor of helping them start their healing.

Well, about a week after I attended the Team Meeting, I accepted the position of Family Interviewer and am officially a member of The Sharing Place staff. I couldn't be more thrilled! It's amazing how timing works and how everything fell into place the way it did. I really believe that someone was pushing me to be there that day and helped me attain such a wonderful position. I start shadowing today and officially begin the middle of November. I am beyond blessed and honored to have the opportunity to do such important and life-changing work and I can't wait to begin on this new journey. My heart feels full of passion and as I think about all the people whose lives The Sharing Place will change, I can't help but well up with tears.

Then, as life would have it, I was offered my position at Wasatch Preferred back after some interesting events transpired. I decided to accept it as well so I went from being unemployed to having two jobs all in one week! I took my position at Wasatch Preferred back on a part time basis to accomodate The Sharing Place and feel being able to work at both places is a great compromise. I get to continue with my career but I also get to work somewhere and do something that fulfills my life and warms my heart. I am beyond blessed to be in this position and feel great about where mine and Mike's life is headed. Again, thank you all for being a part of my journey and for standing behind me every step of the way. I couldn't ask for anything more!

Apparently I am on YouTube now.

I just ran across this and felt the need to post it so I can find it later. I never got a copy of it so it's nice to know where it is.

Anyway, here is my claim to fame. I really don't know why I get asked to talk so much, I get way too nervous as you can tell with the "ya knows" leg shaking and red chest. I think this is my first and last television appearance.

A Sigma Chi Wife I am, I am!

I just wanted to take a moment to post how amazing I think Sigma Chi is and how blessed I feel to be a part of such a remarkable organization. I have the honor of knowing some amazing people through it and I feel like it is an absolute essential part of our lives. I honestly feel like these guys are my best friends, as well as Mike's, and know whole-heartedly that if anything ever happened to Mike or I, they would be there for us in a heartbeat. They also make life so fun and some of my best memories and experiences have been with the Sigs. I can think of little that is better than hanging at The Sig house, The White Owl, Homecoming, Alumni Banquet, football games or one of the many Sig's houses and just telling stories, laughing, joking around and being together. I love walking into a place and getting a huge hug from everyone because we are like family and we always greet each other like we haven't seen each other in a million years. I just feel content with life when around the Sigs. It's rare to find that and I cherish every moment of my time with them.

The friendships don't stop with the brothers though. Through Sigma Chi I have met some of the most incredible girlfriends and I truly count them among my best friends. Being part of the EX wife club is the one of the best things in my life and I am still in disbelief about how wonderful my friends are. I just feel so lucky and can't wait to see where life takes each of us, to watch our friendships grow, to meet new wives, and welcome new babies into the Sigma Chi family.

So I know many people think of fraternities as just non-stop partying and hooking up but it really is so much more than that. The friendships that are built during those years are truly lifelong and I am so glad that Mike is a Sig. Sigma Chi has enhanced our life so much and we have the best support system in the world. This has been incredibly evident this week as the Sigs and Wives have been a constant support to me during this hard time and I don't know if I could have gotten through this without each and every one of you. Guess I just wanted to say thanks and let all you EX's and EX wives know how much I love you and appreciate your presence in my life. You really have no idea how much your friendship means to me.

"Don't thank us. Thank Jesus for inventing Sigma Chi. Many people don't know this, but he was actually the first Sigma Chi. Weird huh?" -Shawn Coon

Halloween brought to you by Ashley.

Not gonna lie, kind of want to be a vampire now.

"Vampires, are sexy. it's the coloring"- Ashley

For all of you that don't know, this is Ashley. She makes a sexy vampiress too! G-chat may seriously be the best thing ever. Thanks G-chat for making these possible.

Thanks Ashley for being an awesome vampire/zombie maker and for making me excited for HAAALLLLOOOOWWWEEEEENNNNN time! Love your face!