Woohooooo!

So when I first started this blog, it was intended to be a blog about the Coons Family, hence the name, "Coons Cabin." But then...stuff just stopped happening in our family, and when things DID happen, my siblings already had it posted on their blog so I was like hey what the heck, I'm writing about myself! So I hope that you haven't been bored with me telling you all about my own life and whats going on...but hey. crap happens, and you'll get over it. And I'll be most definately updating you on the family things as well...but no promises of anything happening for a while!

Well, this week was a pretty awesome week in school!! Monday I got my Alg 2 test back and found that I got a 95% on it, and if you know me, you know that that is a very big deal for me! :D and I also got a 100% on my history test. I realized last semester when it was too late to change anything that if I really want straight A's, it's not going to happen unless I put my mind to it and not settle for less, and work my butt off. So I put my plan into action this spring semester, and so far, It's been working! My hard work is really paying off! I love when that happens! I just got this computer course called UPC (university prep center) and it basically is a ACT/SAT study program thing. Even though I am only a sophomore, it'll be good to get a headstart on it so it won't be TOO stressful when the time comes. Gosh I love high school. HAH! No, I really am enjoying high school...it's just sometimes....yeah....nevermind. haha. Tuesday we had a Snow Day, Thursday we had shortened 3rd and 4th periods so we could have a pep assembly, friday was an early release, and then I have no school on Monday! Having this much off of school has been awesome...I just hope it's not hard to get back into the all day five days a week crap they make us put up with. =P I know, I'm such a baby!

I got back from a Bishop Youth fireside just a few hours ago and it was very entertaining! They had a newly wed couple, a middle aged couple who have been married for about 20 years, and an elder couple who have been married for 55 years talk to us about their marriages and how they came to be. It was funny to have the men tell the story, and then the women correct them on every detail! They all had very good advice! After the fireside had ended and we were all gathered around eating refreshments, a good friend of mine, Bekkah Lybbert and I were talking about how our best friends were boys. Bishop became part of our conversation and he let us know that to girls, boys will just be their best friend, but boys always look at it as more than that. They are your best friend, but if a girl showed interest in him, he would drop everything and date her. We got in a very big argument, and it just so happened that my very best guy friend was amongst the crowd. This discussion started with 3 people brought in a few more, and all of the adults said the same thing. They agree with Bishop. Even though I had a number of people tell me that your best guy friend will always see you more than a "Best friend" or "sister" I still refuse to believe that they have "feelings" for me all these years we've been friends!! But whatever... I have my guy friends and they can look at me any way they want...they jsut don't have to tell me! :)

Well, i hope everyone has a wonderful President's day! I know I will! I'm reading Tuesdays With Morrie, but haven't had much time to read w/ all of my homework and other books I am reading for english. So hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to read some of it! Geez, I have such an exciting life! WOOOH!!

Enjoy The Beautiful Sunshine!

Not gonna lie...Flagstaff is full of psycho hippies. I thought San Fransisco and Berkeley were the places for that...but I stand corrected. This last weekend, I got the chance to go to Flagstaff with 2 of my best friends, Maddie and Marissa, and my cousin Katelynn. We went to the basketball game on friday night, went to the White Out Dance, and then went back to Maddie's house, too tired to even make sense in what we were saying. Maddie crashed in the car...

Marissa and Katelynn woke up WAYYY earlier than Maddie and I, (we woke up at 9:45) and then we got ready and piled into the car and headed down to Flag!! I got thinking on our way to Flagstaff how incredible it is that 4 girls who are SO different can be the best of friends. Just driving there, listening to Marissa and Katelynn talk about coach and chanel, and listen to their "gangsta" music, while maddie and I talk about our classes, interesting facts about the beatles and other bands our parents listened to, while singing along to the oldies station. When we arrived in Flagstaff, the 4 of us went to the rock climbing gym, Vertical Relief.

Yes...we all climbed that really skinny one!! :)

We were assisted by a very nice and dorky man named Jason. We called him Dave until we found out his real name. :) Once we learned how to belay our partners and the rules of it all, Maddie was climbing every rock she could get her hands on, and Marissa overcame here fear of heights. Katelynn and I were partners, and we had a wonderful time. We pretty much stayed on the same level as each other, which was really nice. She had a little bit of fun while belaying me...i'd get a foot off the ground and she'd just hold the rope there so I couldn't put my feet on the ground no matter how hard I tried. Family Love....

The four of us showing off our attractive climbing shoes.

After climbing for a few hours we decided to walk around Down Town Flagstaff to find a place to eat and do a little window shopping. We strolled around trying to find a Mexican Restaurant, and then we found The Black Bean. The Cook...oh my goodness, he was my favorite. He was sporting a pink bandana over his long hair that was pulled into a ponytail! He was singing along with the radio as if nobody was watching him. The food was incredibly delicious, and it was a very good source of entertainment for the four of us.

On the way back, we did some window shopping in this boutique...and the style i would say was very "earthy." The Manager of the store definately had a sense of humor...as she had signs all around the store that said...


The clothes were very interesting... definately not something I would wear to school. The Manager was very nice however, to tell us to "Enjoy the Beautiful Sunshine" on our way out... Man, we should've eaten at the "Veggie Joint" so we could get the full effect of the hippy. Peace and Granola as Marissa and Katelynn would say. After strolling around down town, we went back to the gym and climbed until we layed on the floor, too tired to move. But then we decided to move so that we could go home! I do not have any pictures of us climbing or anything. We all wanted to fit in just a little bit at flagstaff so we didn't style our hair and put on make up. (except Katelynn of course...) so pictures of our faces were strictly not allowed! But either way...this weekend was AMAZING...and I'm glad I could tell ya'll about it!

Just Another Update!

Be excited. No...not really...but hey. you can if you want.
So...the Coons Family has been taking life as it comes, day by day. Nothing extreme has happened in our family...yet. My Dad wrote out the last check for Dallin's mission on Sunday, which was exactly 2 months until he is home. What is he going to do when he's home? That is a good question! I'm not sure he even knows what that answer is! Whatever he does, I'm sure he'll do it because he really wants to!
On the 20th we watched the inauguration for President Barack Obama...and to not offend anyone, i'm just going to say, We're praying for America. and Not for the yellow to stay mellow, the brown to stick around, the white to embrace what's right, and the redman to stay ahead man. (if you watched the whole inauguration you'll know what i'm talking about.) But my real question is, Who made the red man red? (a little inside joke for all you wagon wheel girls campers of 2007!!!!)
Once again, not a lot has been going on! I've been going to school everyday...and just chillin! I'm learning how to Graph Quadratics, and for the first time EVER, I actually enjoyed doing my math homework tonight! crazy, i know! On saturday I'm going to Flagstaff with Marissa, Maddie, and Katelynn to celebrate Maddie's birthday! I'll be sure to post some pics!
Hope all is well with you! Love, Janae

Rambling....

Well... I really don't have a lot to say, but my fingers were cramping so i thought i'd type. not really...I just feel like telling everybody about my life. since it's ya know, so interesting!
Well, new semester, which means new classes that i actually enjoy!
I have:
1 period: American/Arizona History....which i find interesting! It'll be a good class.
2 period: Algebra 2 with Mrs. Hall- i am so glad she teaches this class or else i'd hate it! :D
3 period: Journalism 2! It's a fun class, and i have it with my best friend Marissa! the teacher is going to hate us by the time the semseter is over!
4 period: English 2 College Prep - this class is fun, but my teacher is a 24 year old single male....and lets just say that some girls laugh a little TOO hard and the stuff he says...even when it's not funny. Marissa is in this class with me as well! :D
Speaking of Marissa, she has a blog now ... it's marissan3.blogspot.com! take a look!!

all in all, it'll be a good semester and I'm hoping, praying, and will work my hardest so that i can get straight A's!

My friend Rizek from EFY came down to Show Low to stay with his cousins this past weekend, and he got to join my friends and I for a fun party at my friend Ashley's house! (he knows her from EFY as well) and then a stake dance! it was a really good time and so fun to have that little piece of efy here for a short amount of time!

I'm patiently waiting for the snow to melt. I've always loved snow until i got my license...now i hate it! I've had my share of slipping and sliding, and I hope that i'm done for this year!!!

Well - I hope everybody has a wonderful week!!

Love, Janae!

A Wonderful Kick-Off To The New Year!

WooHoo!! Another year starting!! We hope everyone had a wonderful new years celebration, and hopefully this coming year will bring you lots of joy. I spent New Year's Eve at the Church to watch a fire side and enjoy a dance! It was very enjoyable, and a lot bigger than the stake dances usually are!! But lets backup a week or so, shall we?
We had a nice Christmas with some of the family here! It was probably the quietest Christmas we have ever had, but what can you do? Come what may and love it, right? We don't have pictures...we never do. sorry. We aren't real "shutter-bugs" but maybe I'll start....anyway....
Shauni and Jordan moved down to Glendale the day after Christmas. The roads were crazy, and icy, but they finally made it. They're getting settled into their apartment and they love their new ward. They've been able to see Nathan and Corri a lot since they've moved down there! My Parents and I went down New Years Day to visit. It was a short visit, but it was fun! Tanner is such a cute little boy! He's a good mix of his Mom and Dad, and simply adorable! We spent the night at Nathan and Corri's, and the next day was a BLAST! hah. My dad wore out a suit for the first time in his entire life within the last few years,(you'd think he was bishop for 6 years or something.) so he went to buy a new one! WOHOOOOO! I couldn't even contain my excitement. So we loaded up the car, said goodbye to the family, and headed out to Pomeroys.
The ride home was truly an adventure in itself! about 15 minutes after we hit the road, I started feeling a little queasy, but i knew it wasn't motion sickness, as we were only in the car for a short amount of time! but whatever it was, i spent the whole ride home, and even after we got home, throwing up every ten minutes until 1 am. My mom got it too, and then we found out that Nathan and Corri spent their night doing the same thing we did! We're all feeling better, but I'm really dehydrated, and have a bad headache so I'm home from school. I've been trying to think of creative ways to get hydrated without downing water every hour...which is why my lips are stained with Cherry Popsicle. Well, I know you are all jealous of the way i ended my Christmas Break! I'm very excited for my second semester, because i have all the classes that I enjoy, and that I'm actually good at, so I'll have a good time.
With being sick this past weekend, i had nothing to do except watch movies and read. I watched both the old and the newer version of Little Women, to do a little comparing and contrasting. Even though i absolutely LOVE the old one, and I like it more than the new one, the new one hit me in a way that it's never hit me before! You know how every time you watch a movie or read something you get something different out of it? Well, i just had this experience with Little Women. There was a part towards the end of the movie, when Jo was writing her novel, and she said something about the good times that they used to have, and how things were different, but they can still enjoy their lives just the same, just in a different way. I don't remember what she said verbatim, but when it was said, it just hit me. With my siblings all growing up and spreading their wings, it was hard, because we couldn't all sit around and play together like we used to. There are a lot of things that we could do when we were all younger and living together, but now, we have so many more things to celebrate! We've had additions to our family since 2004, and it hasn't stopped yet! I have a missionary brother out in California and his letters and pictures keep me laughing! Even though it's not the same as the "Good Ol' Days" and not everything is as easy, we still enjoy ourselves. It doesn't do any good to wish things were like they used to, because it's not going to be the same. You've just gotta enjoy what's going on in life right now, and look forward to the future! "You can make the pathway bright!"
Well, I kinda went off on a tangent there, but I hope this post finds you all healthy & Happy! Good day! Janae Coons

Merry Christmas!!!

2008 was quite the exciting and busy year for us!
It started off nice and slow in January...which had us thinking-Hey! this year might be a relaxing one! ....HAH!!!!

In February, Hailey Jewel Slade was blessed! We had a lot of family here, and it was very enjoyable!

Nathan and Corri also told us at this time that she was pregnant with their first!

March! Dallin hit his one year mark on his mission! Boy, time flies! My Dad (Kevin) was released from being Bishop for Wagon Wheel Ward after five and a half years! Although it was definitely time for him to be released, it was a very emotional time for our family! We've all grown so much in those 5 years! and NOW...he gets to make us waffles every Sunday morning! woohoo!

April was slow for us...but we were NOT complaining!

I finished my freshman year in May....and unlike a lot of people say, Freshman year was amazing for me! I loved it! On the last day of school, it SNOWED! So instead of wearing shorts and flipflops, everyone was decked out in their boots, and coats! But it melted fast, and the summer began! Right after school got out, my Mom and Dad left me home alone (with Marissa) and took a 10 mile hike in some place called Chiricahua. That was just a little "stroll" for my dad...but my mom says differently! It was a beautiful hike, and me and Marissa had a wonderful time keeping the house very very clean and not staying up all night. :) I also had my final violin recital at the end of the month, where i played a concerto for 2 violins by Bach. (i didn't play both parts if that's what you were thinking...) My violin teacher Dr. Shaw played the other part. It was a very challenging piece that i worked months on, and i really started hating it, but performing it was very satisfactory. I wish i could continue lessons, but with my schedule for school, i don't know if I'll be able too! :(

In June, we went down to Glendale to watch Nathan graduate for Midwestern University. He is now a Pharmacist at Fry's Market. It was a good graduation ceremony, no super long speeches that nobody cares about! :) the after party was very fun, we got to eat and swim! nothin' better! July was my favorite...you'll figure out why. I attended my second year of EFY. This week was one of the funnest and most spiritual weeks of my entire life. It was such a good time, and i made plenty of new friends!

After EFY, I got to go to a retreat before Girls Camp. This retreat is for all of the "fourth years" (or girls of that age) who will be attending girls camp the following week. We went horseback riding, (and i got sore in places i didn't think were possible...) and we stayed in a big cabin. My best friend Marissa went with me (as well as girls camp) and she had an amazing time. She took her first missionary discussion the night before the retreat, and then at the retreat we had a testimony meeting, and we all felt the spirit very strongly. Marissa stood up and said what she thought of the church so far, and how happy she felt. Obviously, it planted some seeds, as she was baptized in September! And then....the wonderful GIRLS CAMP! Girls camp is always my favorite part of summer. It's always right before the school year begins...kind of a good kick-off. My leaders are amazing, and all the girls in my ward get along so well. They're all my best friends! This year was different because my dad didn't come, (as he wasn't bishop anymore) and i wasn't sure if I'd like it. But it was a very neat experience having a different bishop there, and we were very nice to him... even though Sister Montoya didn't think we would be! :) I don't know what my parents did all this month....I was never home! They probably just sat there...WAITING for me to come home! :P The day i got back from girls camp, my sister Shauni and Jordan had their first baby, Jaren Peter Roberts! Jaren had a very adventurous birth, and Shauni was in a lot of pain due to the c-section, but they are fat and healthy now! (Shauni could NEVER get fat. Jaren's the fat one.) They stayed with us for a few weeks so Shauni could recover in a place where she wouldn't have to climb stairs, unlike her apartment. It was fun having people here again...it gets kinda quiet sometimes! September was baby centered! September 4th, (same day as their anniversary!) Corri and Nathan had their first baby, too! Tanner Allan Coons! Corri's wasn't as hectic, but she did give birth about three weeks early. Tanner is healthy, and smiley! They live in Glendale so i haven't gotten to see him as much, but he is very very cute, and Corri posts a lot of pictures, so we get to see pictures of him a lot. :) We had two baby blessings this month! Jaren's and Tanners! Both were very enjoyable, having the family around and lots of good food! It's so cool to see the family growing!!

Cousins!

All the mommies, but they're not holding the right babies!

October... my sweet sixteen! I had a party w/ my friends, and it was very fun! Hailey also turned a year old the day after my birthday! (the 4th). she was very cute playing with her cake! My choir class also put on a melodrama called "How the wild wild wild west was won!" I played a 'calamity Jane' type girl, and i had a lot of lines to memorize. It was very stressful, having rehearsal until 10 o'clock each night, 2 days before midterms...but a lot of new friendships were made, and now we're all like family!

November - Every year for thanksgiving, we go down to Pomerene, where my dad's family is, and we stay there for a few days. They have a lot of things to do down there for such a small town! We ride the quads and the horses, play on the swings, make bottle rockets, and watch football. (well...the men do.) I don't have any of the good thanksgiving pics up, but Here's one of us hanging out outside.

And now, here we are in December! If you wanna know whats up this month, check the last post. :)

We hope you all had a wonderful year, and hope that next year will be great as well!

Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year!

With Love,

Kevin, Melanie, and mostly Janae Coons

Giving In....

Over the past few months, we've been reading people's blogs more and more to find out what's going on in their lives. So a few nights ago, i thought, "hey? why doesn't my family have a blog?"
I then went to my parents to see what they thought. My Father, Kevin, couldn't care less, as long as he doesn't have to be the one creating it. No offense to my lovely mother, Melanie, but she's not exactly computer savvy. It was then decided that their beautiful, talented, sweet, wonderful, friendly, and intelligent daughter Janae write the blog. So here I am.
Because I'm the author of the "coons cabin" I get to put the music of my choice, and say the things that i want ... as long as it's nice, and not a waist of peoples time. (no promises on that last one...) Let the Blogging Begin!
Lately, in the Coons Cabin, (not really a cabin, but just a plain old house) we've been preparing for christmas. I'm not going to lie, but this Christmas has probably been the slowest. We have no family coming up, and everybody who's going to be here for christmas, already live 8 miles away! My Dad is working until tomorrow, so these past few days have been mom and me, just kickin' it in my house. My Best friends all have family up, so i've been very very bored...hence why i'm writing this blog. I suppose i could be studying for my finals that i have yet to take (due to the very INCONVIENT snowday the day of finals) but really? why would i do that.
Okay, enough about me. This is supposed to be about my FAMILY! okay...here's some family stuff. Ever since Shauni and Jordan (my sister and her husband) have been married, we've seen them atleast once a week since they only live a few miles away. We've also been able to see their adorable baby Jaren grow! But now, the time has come for them to move, so that Jordan go to ASU west and live in Glendale. They will be living very close to Nathan and Corri (my brother and his wife.) They too have an adorable baby boy, Tanner, who I wish I could see more often. We miss Nathan and Corri A LOT, and we will miss Shauni and Jordan when they move, but hey, that's life. It'll be fun to watch Tanner and Jaren play and laugh together! Megan and Danny continue to live here in town, and they come over once a week for dinner. It's so fun watching their daughter Hailey play! she's a little over a year old, and she loves playing ball with her best friend, Grandpa. (my dad.) She loves laughing, and she is talking more and more.
It seems crazy that Dallin will be coming home from his mission in about 3 months! those two years have gone by FAST! So much has happened! Dallin has 2 nephew and a neice to see when he gets back...and a driving and dating little sister! :) The Family misses his spunk and spontaneity very much! We can only go so long without hearing some of dallin's randomness. We're very excited to get a call from him this Christmas! YAY!
It's snowed a lot last night, and it's supposed to continue snowing off and on until friday! We just might have a White Christmas after all!
Well, I hope I haven't bored you too much, and I hope all of you have a Wonderful Christmas! Maybe next time I'll actually have stuff to talk about...

We (my parents and I) Love all of you!


Love, Janae