Wow, how time flies. Someone recently told me that I needed to update my blog. Well, since it has been almost 3 years, I guess it is about time. As I look back, many things have change. I am still teaching at West Jordan Elementary. It almost feels strange to be in the same spot for so long, but it is really nice at the same time. I guess the biggest change in my life is that I GOT MARRIED!! I am now Mrs. Rocco Ruggiero. We got married Aug. 19th and it has been a veryfun, interesting, and exciting 5 months. Here are a few pictures...

Miss Tuttle Is BACK!

Watch out 2nd graders! Miss Tuttle is heading to West Jordan Elementary School. 2nd grade is a little different then Kindergarten, but I am excited for this new adventure.

The Joys Of Summer

Camping 2009!

I can't believe it actully happened, but all 10 of us got together and went camping. We stayed at Mill Hollow Camp Ground in the Uinta Mountains. We had every one there expect Man, Matt and Heather... We missed you guys! We had a great time eating lots of food, going for rides on the lake, playing awesome games provided by Shandi, table dancing, sitting around the fire, and hiking. We even tie-dyed shirts :) Shandi and I are modeling them for you in this picture...

Here we are playing in the Provo Falls waterfall. What a great day of hiking to Lofty Lake and playing in the water. It's beautiful up here!
Just hanging out around the fire. Does life get any better? Great friends, beautiful surroundings, and a tin foil dinner in the fire.

Provo Falls

Me,Shandi, Erika, and Laura

Shandi and I spent the day up in Tony's Grove in Logan Canyon. Heaven! It was so beautiful. on the way up we were wondering how people stock fish in ponds. We came up with all kinds of crazy ideas. As we were eating our lunch on a rock guess what happened? A truck backed up to the water and fish plopped out! They were stocking the lake right in front of us! We laughed so hard. Isn't this a cool picture? My hair is awesome :)Needing to mark things off of our list, Mike and I headed up Timpanogos Canyon and took the "Caving Class". We got to wear cool helmets and climb where most people don't get to go. It was sweet! Mike and I can make it up the mountain in about 20 minutes, try keeping up with us... I dare you.

Tuttle Family Reunion

Mark and Kristen had us over to their house for a "Pool Party" We spent so much time in the water and had so much fun doing races, sliding down the slide, and splashing each other. One of my favorite moments was when the boys were all laying on tubes in the water and the girls were playing volleyball. All the girls jumped in and splashed the boys. Ha! We all left a little sunburned, but we had a great time together as we always do.

Glow stick power! We had a little bit of fun with the glow sticks. Even Heather and I joined in the fun. Yep, we are cool!

Spring Fun

Hello Friends!! So, I know that it has been a super long time since I have posted. I find my life is not quite as exciting as it was when I lived in Taiwan! I have now worked at "The Window Box" floral Shop for the last two months. I have loved working with flowers again. Even though I love delivering and designing, I secretly miss being in a classroom. I have been interviewing over and over again without any luck... finding another teaching position has been so much harder then I ever dreamed it would be. However, I know things will work out and something will happen. Well, enough of that. Here are some pictures of things I have been up to the last few months :)

MOAB

Heritage Park Ward Camping Trip

Arches with my great friends, Erica and Vanessa. They are amazing girls and I am so sad that Erica is going back home to Japan next week.

DRIVE IN MOVIE.

I have never been to a drive in movie before and guess what? They show TWO moview! I was so excited. We were quite snug in the back of the truck, but it was so stinking fun! Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS to Trae and Jaci who are now engaged.

Just waiting for the movie to start. Mike moved home for the summer and I am so thankful! I'm in a rough place right now and don't know many people. If anyone really knows me they know that I hate being by myself and want to be doing something every second of the day. I was getting really sick of driving to Salt Lake all the time to hang out with people. Mike and I have been doing lots of hikes and have a great summer list of things we want to do. Thanks Mike!

This is a wedding that my floral shop did down in Springville. It was a long day and a lot of work. Just the flowers were $24,000! Yes it was amazing, but i can't imagine spending that much money. Wow.

Jaci's Birthday

For Jaci's birthday Trae and I planned a surprise party for her. It was really fun because she had no idea and was really surprised. I love birthdays because they are just another excuse to see my amazing friends. Seriously, I am so lucky to have you guys. I couldn't ask for better friends (even though most of you are all married now). I am so thankful we still see eachother often, you guys are so important to me. Love ya!

Christy's Graduation and Chase's Eagle Award

Oh my heck... Christy is graduating from High School! That makes me feel old. Brittney and I were laughing because it is such a weird feeling. You know... writing this is making me remember how blessed I am. Not only do I have amazing friends, but such a loving and supportive family. My family is so close and I am so thankful that I have so many cousins that are my best friends. How could I be so lucky?


Jaci and I went to Addison's wedding reception... I don't think I have ever been so excited to see a wedding anouncement. Congratulations Addison! ( by the way, Jaci and I are trying to make smoothie faces.. weird, I know)

Caitlyn's Home Coming

As the usual cousin tradition, we met Caitlyn at the Airport as she flew home from Argentina. I am so excited to have her back, I have missed her!

Not having much going on with my life, I bought a ticket to Ohio one day and went out to visit Heather. Heather is living out there right now and I hadn't seen her since before I left for Taiwan. I had so much fun with her and we ate way too much food. Miss you Heather!

Babysitting my favorite family! We always have a "Princess Tea Party" every time I stay at their house. We made cake, cookies and a special drink. It was so much fun!

Taiwanese Dumplings

Taiwanese Dumplings

Ginger

Cabbage

Green Onions

Shredded Pork

Dumpling Wrappers (found at Smiths)

Soy Sauce

Vinegar

Sesame Oil

Grate one clump of Ginger into a bowl. Place Pork in the bowl with the Ginger. Put about 1/4- 1/3 cups of Sesame Oil, some Salt, and some Pepper in with the Pork. Mix ingredients with hands for 10-15 minutes. Mince Cabbage and Onions and then add to Pork mixture. Keep mixing with hands. Place small spoonfuls of mixture into Dumpling Wrappers. Fold wrapper over and fold edges. Put in water until water boils, then add 1 cup of cold water and wait for it to boil again (do this 3 times).

Sauce:

Chopped Garlic

About 1/4 cup Soy sauce

1 Tbls. Vinegar

*Remember that they didn't really measure things... this was me watching and guessing. AND... this recipe makes TONS!!!! I halved it and still used 2 packages of dumpling wrappers!

A tatse of Thailand...

Here is a taste of the wonderful things I saw in Thailand

On my trek I got to sleep in bamboo huts, play in waterfalls, ride elephants, and walk through many amazing things!

We took a Thai cooking class- wow, it was so good! I just need to practice a little more.

Ancient City

Floating Market- this was one of my FAVORITE things! It was so beautiful and so much fun. You just sit in your little boat and buy things as you float by.

Sadly I never posted any of Christmas or my trip around Taiwan the last week. They were both wonderful experiences and maybe some day I will get around to it. I also need to post more about my trip to Thailand, but here is a taste of the wonderful things i saw in Thailand :)

Rachelle is back and adjusting...

Rachelle is back in America!

So, I think that my life is almost back to normal. Sometimes it is hard to believe that I even left the country. It just feels like I never left. However I have enough stuff to prove otherwise. I miss Taiwan more than words can say, I already wish I could go back. I had a slightly hard time adjusting to American food and stuff when I got back.... Never thought I would have culture shock when I got back to the states! It was quite funny, I totally felt like a missionary! Now that i am home I am living with my family and Subbing in Davis School District. It isn't my favorite thing in the world, but it is keeping my busy and paying the bills. This next month is going to be full of applications and interview- my favorite thing. Anyway, here are a few things I have been up to the last month...

Last Saturday my cousins came up to my house and we had a great time eating pizza and then playing Murder In The Dark for hours! It was creepy walking around in the dark and trying to not get killed, but it was so much fun!

I got to go to the Draper open house twice! Once with my college friends and then another time with Gayle and Tenille. Last spring Tenille, Gayle, and I had met in Draper to have a picnic on the temple grounds- we didn't realize that the temple wasn't finished yet! We laughed really hard when we saw all the dirt and construction workers everywhere.

My little brother, Connor, and I were jumping on the tramp to get all the snow off. All the snow kept making a heart shape in the middle of the trap- we thought it was perfect for Valentines day!

Mckay is 16!!!! Wow, my little brother it 16, it's so crazy! For his birthday we went to Olive Garden and ate cake- well, we were too full to eat cake so we just blew out candles :)

Yay for Ice Cream! After Ice Skating, we headed over to Macy's to get some giant ice cream. It was so fun to see my Provo friends again! I missed them :)