Silver Bells in the City

On November 21st some friends of ours invited Brian and I to go with them to the Silver Bells in the city in downtown Lansing. They had a parade, lit up the state Christmas tree, and then had fireworks at the State Capital Building. We had such a fun night with our friends Ashley, Romney, and their little girl Ainsley.

Here is a picture of our friends. We were all bundled up for the cold night.
Here are some of the pictures from the parade. Brian liked the Army trucks the best, but I liked the train.

Ainsley was really cute all night. She kept reaching out her hand to hold mine throughout the night, and then when we went to our friends house afterward to warm up with wassail and some treats, and play a game, she wanted me to hold her. Her parents said that I am one of the only people they have seen her want to be held by. I found a new friend.

After Ainsley went to sleep Brian and I were introduced to a new game. The game is called Ticket to Ride, and we loved playing it with them. Someday we will need to get our own.

This is a video of the lighting of the states Christmas Tree.

Here is a video of the fireworks.

Primary

Brian and I just got called to be primary teachers, the week before the Primary Program! Our first Sunday in primary was the practice, and we didn't even know the names of the children in our class. We were also covering for another teacher that we substituted for last month. When I went to sit with the class we will be teaching, one girl kept running around. I had no idea what her name was, or what I should do. Well, it can only get better, right?

Actually, I am very excited to teach these kids. They are very cute and I think the one girl just wanted attention. I know after I get to know the children better, I will better understand what they need and what I can do for them. I have been working with children for about 2/3 of my life. I have more experience than most people my age do, that don't have any children. I have been missing all the babysitting, and what-not, that I did in Utah. It will be good to work with the children again.

The First Snow Fall

Brian has been anxiously awaiting for the snow to finally fall. Over and over again the weather report promised some snow, but repeatedly it was wrong.

On Sunday we were relaxing and discussing wether it would snow like the report said it would. Just as I was saying to Brian that the longer we have to wait for the snow the longer we will enjoy it, I looked up at him and I saw through the window behind him that it had just started to snow. I had to laugh at the snows timing.

We are hoping to get some snow gear for me soon so that I can actually have fun and not dread each day that I see the snow. I think this will be a good winter.

Brian often reminds me that he had to drive five hours to see snow when he was growing up so it is still so much fun for him. He just hates how cold it gets. But I have to say he knows more than I do about the winters in Michigan.

A new addition to the family

After going to the Zoo we talked about how much fun it would be to have a pet. So for family night last night Brian took me to Petco to get a fish. I had already decided to get a Bata fish because I know from Brynnlee that they were easier to take care of. It took me forever to decide which fish to get. I went through each one and slowly narrowed it down. When I had it down to two, Brian came over from wandering around the store to keep him sane, and helped me with the final pick. Its a beautiful blue/green that has a nice sheen to it, and it pretty active.

After finally choosing the fish we went on the the hardest part of it all. Picking a name. Brian and I have very different tastes in names. When we do have kids it will take the entire nine months to agree on one name. At one point last night we had to leave it, and go to bed without giving the fish a name. This morning, however, we finally ageed on Kuzco. So Kuzco it is.

I am so excited to have a little fish to keep me company at home while Brian is at school. Brian joked when I told him that I would talk to the fish during the day that it was okay until the fish started talking back. Next time I will need a parrot.

Alpabet Zoo

On Saturday I surprised Brian with a trip to the Zoo. To add to the experience I decided to kind of make a game out of it and printed out a paper with the alphabet on it for us to search for at least one animal in the zoo that started with each letter.It turned out to be more fun then I imagined. This got us to pay attention to the information that is provided. We learned a lot about the animals that are there as well as found some animals that we didn't know existed.

When we first came in, right off the entrance it the River Otter. Brian absolutely loved to watch the River Otter play in the water, it was his favorite type of animal. After a while I wondered if we were going to see any more of the zoo, but in time he was ready to move on. We did however come back to the Otters as we went to leave.

It was really neat for me. I like peacocks, peacock blue was my wedding color. I think they are so beautiful, and love the chances to see them show off there colors. At this Zoo we found a perfectly white peacock. I didn't even know they came in white. It was so cool! I tried to get a picture of it, but it was sunbathing where it was hard to see. I did see it start to fan out its tail feathers a little bit, but it didn't do it all the way.

We saw a lot but not everything, and we look forward to a chance to go back again. We got all of the letters except six. Maybe next time we'll get them all.

The Last Lecture

When Brian graduated from BYU he was given a book from the Professor that he had been doing research with. This book was called "The Last Lecture." He was instructed that before he read the book he need to listen to the Last Lecture on YouTube.

Well, this intrigued me a lot, but I didn't get to it for a while. Yesterday I was organizing some of our books on the bookselves, and I found this book again. I was again intriged by it and wanted to read it, but remebered the earlier intructions. So this morning I watched the Last Lecture on the internet.

I believe that anyone that has not seen this needs to. I was really touched and inspiried by it. It is really amazing, and puts you own life into perspective. With all the junk out there here is a really powerful message from someone that could get mad at life, but instead chooses to make the best of what he has.

I am excited to continue on and read the book now.

Unpacking surprises

Today I have hit the boxes again. I am down to the last bunch, which take the longest to do. As I was searching in one of the biggest boxes for a few little things I stashed between my china I found a few things that completely surprised me.

Now you have to know that while we packed our stuff up before we moved, I did something uncharacteristic of me, and was very organized about it. I have bought colorful sharpies and color coded each room (ex. Kitchen=Green, Living Room=Purple, etc.) , I then put numbers on each of the boxes with the color it needed, I then wrote in my notebook each number and listed what was in each of the boxes. I loved this system!! The day we moved it if anyone needed something I could find it within 15 min or less. When we move again (hopeful not for a long while) I will use this system again.

Back to today. What I found was definitely not in my notebook. I found a couple of legos!! My guess is that my adorable nephew, that wanted to be such a big helper while we were getting ready to move, put a few extras in to keep our stuff company.

Well, I got a really good laugh in the middle of all the chaos of unpacking.

Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a beautiful (birth) day!

Yesterday I had a wonderful birthday! I got to sleep in until 8 instead of 6:30. Brian was really sweet and made me breakfast and lunch. I got Peaches and Cream. Yum, yum! I then spent part of the day working on a pricing chart, and I know many wouldn't enjoy doing math, let alone on their birthday, but I was having fun. I am so proud of my chart. I am such a geek!

I then had the opportunity to go and see one of my best friends for dinner. It was so great to see her. Nichole is originally from Michigan, and when we were roommates before I got married, we never would have imagined that I would move out here.

Yesterday was my first time driving to visit her, and the driving directions missed one important detail. Needless to say I got lost. Luckily my navigator, Brian, found a map and got me heading back in the right direction.

We went to a fun Italian restaurant, and sat outside. The food was really good, and since it was my birthday we got 1/3 off the entire meal, plus I got a free dessert. It was great!

After dinner we went to Nichole's parents. They are so nice. I really enjoyed talking to them.

It was so crazy. While we were visiting with Nichole and her parents, Kevin, Shelly, and Kaybria called. They left me a message and sang happy birthday to me. It was so cute hearing little Kaybria's voice, I think she is going to have a voice like her mom. I called them back later, and while I was on the phone with Kevin I had Margaret and Elaina call. I then called Margaret back and while I was on the phone with her I got a call from my dad. I then called Elaina back, but had to leave a message and then my mom called. While I talked to my family Elaina called again. I also had Mike and Francine call on our home phone while we were gone, and Michelle call on Brian's phone twice. I talked to her a bit the first time, but the second time I was on the phone with Kevin, I think.

I was so nice to have everyone remember me. It really made my day being able to talk to the people that I love. I did have Celeste call earlier in the morning, and Sabrina said Happy Birthday on Facebook, and I got a card in the mail from my grandpa and Marti, as well.

It was a fantastic birthday!

Being 21

Well, I am now into the last few hours of being 21. I know that I am totally weird, but I am sad to let it go. I have greatly enjoyed the year that I have had being 21. But, I guess this new year will have many more fun and exciting days for me.

Boy, I remember thinking that 21 was so-o old, what was I thinking. I still feel so young, I have so much ahead of me in this life. My older sisters, Krystal and Celeste, are such great examples of this. In the last year or so, they have really thrown themselves into enjoying and making the most of each day.

My mom and I just had a nice long conversation over the phone and I got to hear the coming and goings of everyone. It is so fun to hear that Krystal is constantly doing things with her young single adult friends, and keeping busy in her ward and with her adorable kids. Celeste loves living on her own, being with her roommates, and is always making plans for the next adventure.

It's funny to think that these two sisters wouldn't go down the dark stairs when we were young without me guiding them, but now they seem to be the ones that are leading me through the dark, unknown path of life with there wonderful examples.

I have amazing sisters. Thanks you guys. I love you!!

So I guess I am okay with turning 22 tomorrow.

Bring it on!

Going to school

Brian is a Teachers Assistant, and part of this is that he has to teach recitations to four classes, 180 students, every Friday. It is a stats class and it has been a while since he took one so Thursday nights Brian is usually stressed about being able to present the material correctly.

Last night as Brian and I were talking and joking around I said that I should sit in on one. Well, I did. I went to campus and sat in on the last class that he taught for the day, we then had lunch together before he had to run off to class. It was so much fun just to be able to see him in the middle of the day. He did very well. He had the class involved and you could tell that he wanted the students to really understand the subject. After a few more years of this and he will be a fantastic professor. I am so proud of my husband!

Our Anniversary

On Saturday August 30, Brian and I had a lot of fun celebrating our anniversary together. Brian took me to Michigan Lake for a few hours it was my first time going to any of the Great Lakes and it is unbelievable how huge it is. I felt like we were at the beach in California. Here are some of the pictures that we took...

This is what we saw on our way to the Lake. It reminded me of A Goofy Movie!
Here's a picture of the gorgeous beach. It was soft and sandy, and the weather coudn't have been better. A perfect day at the beach.
Doesn't it look like we are in California!
There's a cute girl. Smile.
Brian, not being one to do things the way most people do, stuck this stick in the ground to hold our camera to get a picture of both of us.
It worked really well, as you can see right here.
We hiked up a little ways and found this beautiful area not too far from the beach. It was hard in our flip-flops so we didn't go very far. Next time.

We ended the day by having our cake. It came across the country with us. It was not the best tasting, but it was fun anyway. Brian actually found some places that tasted okay. We then exchanged gifts, and I gave Brian some framed pictures, one from our wedding day and a recent really cute one of me, to put on his desk at MSU. He is going to be spending almost all of his waking time there to I wanted him to be able to look at me while he is there. Plus all the girls will know that he is taken!

Here are the pictures Brian now has on his desk.
I really like this picture of me. I never like pictures of myself! Jakobe is a good photographer.

I also gave Brian a couple of simple photo albums.

Brian gave me two pretty vases, one for the breakfast tray he gave me for Christmas, and the other for anywhere. He also got me a measuring tape for my interior designing around the home. He noticed I used his a ton the last few weeks. He made it really cute. It's silver and he painted the part that has the sticker logo blue and put our initials with a heart in silver glitter on the blue. I love it! My husband is so creative and thoughtful, even when he is insanely busy. He also got 18 roses for me.

This one he gave to me the night before our anniversary.
He then used the petals of five of them to make a heart, and put my gifts in the middle of it along with the other dozen roses. SO SWEET!

Here is one of the dozen roses. They were not open when he gave them to me, but started to open the day after. This one was my favorite.

It was a really wonderful day!

Oh, what a year it's been!!!

Brian and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary on Saturday! I can't believe that we have been married that long, and yet sometimes it seems like it has been so much longer, especially considering all that we packed into the year.

Some of the highlights from this last year...

August 30,2007-Brian and I were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple (what a wonderful day!)

August 31-September 3-Honeymoon in Vancouver, BC, Canada (absolutely beautiful, we loved going to the suspension bridge and seeing Dolphins put on a show)

September 6-Celebrated my 21st birthday

September 7-Found out someone was embezzling money from the company Brian worked for (not a fun time for anyone, I hardly saw Brian through all of this mess, plus he had school on top of it all!)

September 21-24-Trip to California for Open House (Brynnlee, Caleb, Andrew, and Dallin loved to play together, Caleb cried when he had to leave)

October (Halloween time)- invited my family to our apartment for a party (made the place feel pretty small with everyone, but it was a lot of fun and my dad even got into the cupcake decorating)

November-December-Talked about moving to California, and about Brian graduating. Deciding not to move, and postponed graduation.

December 21-31-Went to California for Christmas (my first Christmas away from home, hard but Brian made it wonderful and memorable for me)

February 14,2008-Brian bought for himself the same thing that I got for him for Valentine's Day (he has since learned not to buy himself anything when it's close to a time for gift giving)

March-Brian looks around for a full time job, and finds that Michigan State University might be interested in him. Studied for a week for GMAT and was below what they will consider accepting. Brian and I decide to let it go for now.

March 28-April 1-Brian's Birthday trip to California (always great to visit the family)

April 24-25-Brian graduated from BYU (YES!!!). I decided to take some summer classes at BYU in the summer

April-May-Brian starts looking again for a full time job, and accepts one at the same company he had been working for, as the Controller (I was excited to finally know what we were doing, little did I know it was all going to change very soon)

May-June-Brian gets a call from MSU, a week after excepting new position at work, wanting him to start their Marketing Doctoral Program in the fall (it was meant to be)

June-Brian and I worked on moving arrangements, and packing up the apartment (not a fun thing to do)

June 30-July 2-We made a whirlwind trip out to Michigan (Brian's old mission stomping grounds, but my first look at the area)

July 11-My last day at work. Only thirty minuets into it I bent over and my back gave out. I fell to the floor like a rag doll and was unable to get up. I had to call Brian to pick me up (this was not how I wanted my last day to end)

July 12-17-The wonderful family reunion at the ranch. Brian was totally in his element! He absolutely loved this trip!! It was great to have Celeste come and surprise us all. Seeing the bear cub was neat. I just wish I had been able to ride, especially with Brian (maybe next time)

July 26-28-We moved out of our apartment in Provo, and moved in with my parents (Caleb loved that Brian had "lots of sleepovers")

August 1-7-Our last road trip to California to see family (at least for now)

August 11-We packed up the moving truck, and got all ready to leave

August 12-15-Made the long drive across about seven states to Michigan with Mike (Brian's dad), and my sweet little sister, Rachelle (who needed driving hours, and got about half of them in this trip alone), camping along the way

August 15-Moved into our new place, very grateful for the system I had for packing (I can find almost anything within minuets, it is great!)

August 18-22-Brian was in orientation or already working most of the time so I got the place almost all unpacked and organized by myself (it was nice to have something to keep me busy, but I am very glad when Brian comes home)

August 26-Brian's first day of classes (he is enjoying it, and I am very proud of him)

August 29-Brian's first day teaching! He has four classes, and 180 students that he does recitations every Friday for! (He's amazing!)

August 30-Our first wedding anniversary!!

Moving

Well, today has finally come. Brain and I need to be out of our apartment tonight. We have been working really hard this last week to get things packed up and moved to my parents house. My family has been such a wonderful help in all of this. Jacob stayed over a few nights last week, and we put him to work. We also had Rachelle come and help us on our big move day on Saturday. It was so wonderful having them help. We also had Krystal and her kids, Brynnlee and Caleb, help unload at Mom and Dad's. My family is so wonderful!

I have to say that we had a bit of fun during all the drudgery of moving. One of the times Brian came in get a drink he could not find his glass from earlier so he got another one out. Later I found the glass he had misplaced and gave it to Jacob. Jacob waited for the right moment and poured it on Brian as he was going down the stairs. It was a really hot day and Brian needed to cool off anyway.

Brain and I have lived in this apartment since we got married, and have many memories here. It is going to be hard to leave. We are going to miss this place.

Here are some pictures of the move on SaturdayOur next door neighbor took pity on Brian and Jacob and helped move our entertainment center.Jacob was such a big help to Brian and me
We were so glad that Krystal told us about how cheap it was to rent a trailer for just a day. We were able to move so much more in one trip with it. We did a bit of calculating and found that it would have taken about 4 or 5 times as many trips with only the truck , but we did it all in 2.
Here Brian is resting after a long day of packing. He deserved it.

Skipping rocks

Brian and I try to meet for lunch as often as we are able to, and for lunch yesterday we went down to the river. After we were finished eating lunch we started playing in the cool water. Brian started skipping rocks and I told him that I did not know how to. Brian was very surprised and decided to teach me how. I had no idea that there was such a science to it. I had so much fun.

House hunting

On monday morning Brian and I flew out to Michigan to look for a place to live. We had only a short time to do everything, but I think we did very well. A lot of the houses needed a ton of work done to them, or were out of our price range or in a really scary neighborhood. We were finally able to get a few that we put onto a list of possibilities. We then spent almost the entire last night we were there going over each of the houses in detail and really discussed what we each want to have with buying a home. We then met with the Realtor for the last time and made an offer on one of them. It was very crazy, but Brian and I feel good about the place we picked. Now we are just waiting to hear back.

Our first night was kinda interesting, I had a migraine and when we checked into the place we had reserved online to stay at we found was in a very scary place. The first room had the doorjam bent back, and then the next one had a leaky toilet and the window would not lock. We quickly decided to find another place to stay, and we did find one that was 100 times better.

The whole experience was very crazy, but Brian and I learned a lot from this experience. Looking back on it we realized that for all that we had to do it went pretty smoothly.

Visiting the Baldi Family

Last week Brian and I drove out to Califorina to see his parents and sisters family. It was such a long drive(11 hours!!), but the trip was SO worth it. We played on the beach, down in the dried up creek, Michelle and I had some girl time with a cute movie and made a bunch of treats, we also did some four-wheeling, and the boys had fun feeding the four foot king snake and trying to feed the hawk, making and throwing airplanes, and just talking and relaxing. We did not want to come home, it was an amazing time with the family. Andrew and Dallin are SO adorable, and smart too! Brian and I can't wait to go out there again.

MSU here we come!

I am very excited that Brian got into graduate school. It is quite amazing that he got this offer. We have a lot to do to make it to Michigan, but we are taking it one step at a time. We are off to a great adventure.

Does it ever end?!

I feel as though I am doing homework every spare second that I have. I am about ready to explode. I have been learning a lot, but I wish I had a little more time to myself. I would like to even be able to do laundry. Pretty much the only break I have from school is when I go to work, but while I am at work I am constantly thinking about the things I am learning about in my class. I need a vacation, but I don't have the time to take one. I can't wait until fall!

Breakfast in bed

Brian is so sweet! Many of you know that I love to sleep in, and Brian quickly figured this out after we got married. So for Christmas he gave me a breakfast tray.

This morning I woke up to him making me breakfast, and bringing it into me. I am so lucky to have him!

School

I have been back in school for a week now, and I am just loving it! I am only taking one class, but Spring term is shorter then the regular semesters, so we go through things very quickly. In only two days I think I did more homework then I ever did before for a class. I am trying really hard to do well and keep up. Brian has been such a support to me in all of this. If it weren't for him I wouldn't even be able to go to school right now.

I have learned a lot already. The class I am taking is Home and Family Living 100. I like the Home and Family Living major and hope to be able to take a lot more classes in the future. Brian is looking forward to my class for summer term. It's Basic Food Preparation.

Finally

I've looked at other blogs and loved how cute, and informative they are. So I have been wanting to have my own blog for a while now, but just talked Brian into it this morning. He was worried about the security. I am so excited to join the world of blogging.