Edible Village

Colt and I have had kind of a rough week being stalked and all, so last night we decided to take it easy and do something fun.  We bought candy and spent all evening eating candy and making a gingerbread village.  I think my favorite was when Colt would talk about how some of the roofs weren't designed correctly for the snow. Here is one that Colt made:

and one that I made:

We made a whole village, complete with marshmallow snowman and coconut snow.

Thought our piping skills leave something to be desired, it was nice to have a fun night where we didn't have to worry about school or creepy people.

Christmas Dishes

Last year for Christmas, my mom gave me a beautiful set of Christmas dishes.  I have been waiting all year to use them, so Colt and I finally pulled them out when we made burritos earlier this week.  That was probably not the most festive meal choice, but I didn't care.  I just wanted to use them.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, we went to Houston to be with most of Colt's family, and see the cute little twins that Colt's sister just had.  We had fun playing with our neice and nephews.

We we went downtown Houston on Thanksgiving and watched one of the coolest firework shows I have ever seen. I wish I had taken pictures.  Colt, Toni, and I went to the Space Center and got to see all kinds of cool things.  There was also a castle lego exhibit where Colt and I were king and queen of the lego castle.

There were also lego dragons and lego knights, so Toni and I were knights with pink shields.

It was a really fun trip, and we enjoyed being with family and finally getting to Texas to see Amy, Erik, and their family. 

Now Charles, That's How You Threaten Someone

This has been quite an interesting week for Colt and I.  Colt has been stressed with finals coming up and his last projects of the semester (and his undergrad degree) being due soon.  On top of that, we have had some creepers kind of stalking us...

Thursday morning Colt was away at work, and I was watching the news/dozing before starting my day.  I woke up to the doorbell ringing, but wasn't sure that it was actually the doorbell, so I ignored it.  The doorbell rang several more times after that.  I didn't answer...I thought it was creepy.  Later, we found a note at our door saying that the previous tenants of our townhouse had a package delivered to our house and to call them when we received it. Since Colt's sister is the manager of our townhouse, we asked her to deal with it.  I thought it was all behind me at this point.

I was wrong.  I got a call that night that these people were at our house pounding on the door.  They were also sending threatening/rude texts to my sister-in-law, and claiming that we were trying to keep their package.  (As if I really want their stupid package in the first place).  This went on well into the night, so I was a little scared to go home.  So scared that we spent the night at Colt's parents house.  I still can't think of anything so important that you need to pound down someone's door for it. 

The next morning we notified the police of the problem.  We gave her back her package, and informed her that if she contacted our family again a formal complaint would be filed with the police.  She was also informed not to have things sent to our house anymore. I thought that would have been obvious since they moved out 8 months ago.  Creepers.

Bonus points to anyone who knows where this title came from.

Graduated

I'm done! No more school. Ever. I'm so excited!

The End

I have three days left of student teaching. Three. Days.  I can't believe it.  I am going to miss all of the crazy conversations I have had with middle school students the last three months.  I will have to do a post about those later.  Really, this means I will be graduating...finally.  I have been waiting for this day for a long time.  I can't wait until Friday!

Back in the Groove

I can't believe so much time has passed since I have last blogged.  I want to get back in the blogging groove, but we will see how it goes with my schedule (and our lack of internet).

I have been student teaching this semester, which I absolutely love.  I am at Hurricane Middle School and I was really nervous because everyone told me that middle school is the hardest to teach.  Though my students are at an awkward stage of life, I love them!  I'm so glad to know that I love teaching as much as I thought I would.  I have 38 days down, and 22 to go and the time is passing so fast.  I'm super excited to be done and graduate, but at the same time I'm not sure that I'm ready to move on.  I don't have a plan for what's next in my life, but we will see what comes.

I also recently joined a ballroom dance team.  We only practice once a week, but it is fun and it has allowed me to dance again which is wonderful.  We will go on a few tours and do some local performances, so it should be fun.  I wish Colt could do it with me, but due to his class and work schedules he couldn't. 

Other than that, we are just busy trying to keep up with everything going on.  Hopefully, I'll get back in the blogging groove!

Birthday Week

The last few years for our birthdays my mom has come out to visit.  I consider it my birthday week, and I love it!  She just left, which was sad, but we had a great week.  Mostly, we sat around and watched Lost and movies.  We also got our hair done,

and went to see Cats at the Tuacahn theater in St. George.  We convinced Colt to shamelessly take a picture with Old Deutoronomy and with the Cats sign.

As you can tell, we got a camera for our birthdays! Both of our cameras had stopped working so we were desparate for a new one and were very grateful when my mom brought us one.  Now, hopefully, I will blog more.  I love visits from my mom.  She's the best.

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!

Colt is really the best husband ever.  He takes care of me, loves me, and works so hard.  I love that I have a husband who honors his Priesthood and takes me to the temple.  He makes me laugh and smile everyday.  Thanks for everything you do for me, Colt!  I hope you have the best birthday ever!

Just For You

My father-in-law has been complaining about always having to look at the dirty diapers on my blog since I haven't written in a while.  So, this post is just for him...now he can look at himself instead!

Hopefully I will get in a blogging mood again soon, but until then I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Moving Motivation

We share a small front porch with our next door neighbors.  This is what we were greeted with this morning:

In case you are unsure of what these are...they are dirty diapers.  Our lovely neighbors have started a collection of dirty diapers on our little front porch.  I could say something, but I really have no words.

Ironic

I am currently writing a paper about the food pyramid and nutrition.

I ate cookies and milk for breakfast.

Almost There

I have:
 -6 sets of homework and quizzes to grade
-one 10 page paper to write
-6 math assignments to do
-2 presentations
-1 abstract algebra final
standing between me and summer.  I can't wait!

Empty Walls

We are moving to Hurricane this month.  There are aspects of moving that I hate, but I love the feeling of going through all my stuff and getting rid of things we no longer need or want.  Tonight, Colt and I started to pack so all the pictures and things on the walls came down.  Our little apartment looks so bare and empty! 

Moving is a bittersweet experience for me.  On one hand, I'm so excited to start over again.  I am excited to live in a new place, start teaching (wow, I am not that old!), and settle down a little bit more.  On the other hand, I am sad.  I love Cedar.  I love the snow.  Cedar is the first place I moved away from home.  It is where I fell in love with ballroom dance, Colt, and the fact that there are different sizes of infinity.  Cedar is where my friends are.  Part of me is sad that I'm not moving closer to my family, but I know that this is the right thing for us to do.

I'm really so glad that I have a knowledge of the gospel and that the Lord blesses us so much.  He always comforts me when I am feeling sad about moving or anything else.  I love that Christ atoned so that I could have that comfort and so that he could help me through my fears.  I'm also grateful that He gave me Colt to help me when I am down or feeling overwhelmed about moving out of the college life.  Thank goodness for the gospel and all the blessings it brings us.

Spring Break

This has been a wonderful spring break. At first, I thought I was going to be bored for spring break, since Colt had to work all week leaving me stuck at home by myself. After tell my Mom this, she decided she would come visit me! Then, both my parents decided to come out, which was even better! So I spent this week with my parents. I really needed this break so much.

I'm so thankful to have parents who are willing to drive out here to see me. I miss being near them so much and I'm so thankful for the time that I get to spend with them. It was really the best spring break I could have asked for. Thanks for coming out Mom and Dad. I love you!

Pi Day

I am so excited for Pi day tomorrow. This is not to be confused with pie day, which would also be fun.  Most people make pies to celebrate Pi day.  I wanted to make cookies that look like this

How cool is this?! I found a copper Pi-shaped cookie cutter! I am dying to have it. Not only could I make math cookies, but I could decorate with Pi. That would make me so happy.  Pi is one of the coolest numbers ever.  If it is not one of your favorite numbers, it should be.

How are you celebrating Pi day?

Knitting

...is my new addiction. My fingers are sore.

My scarf will be cute, though!

Mondays

I LOVE Mondays, and here is why:

-I am always more productive on Monday than other days of the week
-Chuck is on!
-I have energy and feel rested from the weekend
-abstract algebra homework isn't due for 4 more days

None of these things are very big, but they all make my Monday great.  Especially Chuck.  I just love watching Chuck after a day of productive grading and school work.  I hope all of your Mondays are as great as mine!

Gluten for Punishment

The verdict is in...I have a gluten intolerance.  What does that mean?  Well, that means I do not have Celiac Disease, but I have antibodies that normal people do not.  Essentially this means no more bread, pastries, cookies, pasta, crackers, or anything else made with gluten.  How long does this diet last?  The rest of my life.  Ont the bright side, I can still eat Mexican food as long as it is not made with flour tortillas! Oh how I love Mexican food!  Also, I was told that I can eat ice cream and other fattening things and actually lose weight. How is that for a diet plan?

Anyway, for the next lifetime I will be experimenting with gluten free recipes.  I am going to try baking things with rice flour (I hear it makes things rock hard...I am determined to find a solution!), and eventually I am going to try to make my own rice flour.  But, until then I need your help.  What are your favorite recipes that do not include gluten? What would you miss the most if you could not eat gluten?

Oh, and everyone should eat some pasta, bread, and delicious treats this week for me!

Happy Monday

This is what my week will look like:
-study for abstract algebra
-go to the doctor
-teach junior high students about pre-algebra
-study for abstract algebra
-grade papers that will most definitely frustrate me and cause me to lose hope in our educational system
-study for abstract algebra
-complete the take home portion of my abstract algebra test
-study, study, study for abstract algebra

On Friday night I plan to collapse and not think about math at all.  I will hang out with Colt and do something lazy like watch a movie while eating frozen pizza.  I am in for a long week of group theory and proofs.  At least I don't have to write an essay!
 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ok, so I know that was yesterday, but today Colt and I have been married for six months!

I love you, Colt!

Snowy Weekend

This weekend we:

made snow angels

took non-creepy pictures

rode snowmobiles

(See! Even I did it!)

relaxed

and took funny pictures of ourselves!

We had a great weekend.  It was exactly what I needed to just get away for a few days and spend time with Colt and Dan. 

What fun things did you do this weekend?

In Need of Ice Cream

After a few trips to the ER, we went to a regular doctor today.  He decided that this pain is related to my previous symptoms of nausia pretty much everytime I eat.  Thus, he thinks I am either lactose-intolerant, or am allergic to gluten.  So, for the next two weeks, I cannot eat anything that has milk products in it.  So far we have come up with dry cereal, peanut butter, pasta and sauce with no cheese, chili with no cheese or sour cream, fruits, and veggies.  I don't know if I can do this for two weeks.  Literally everything I eat has some form of milk in it, and sour cream is a staple in our house.  Really though, look at your food labels.  Almost everything says "contains milk" at the bottom.

Any other suggestions of things I can eat that do not contain milk products?

P.S. This is going to be especially hard because Colt just bought girl scout cookie ice cream, and my Mom is going to send valentine's candy which will be fully of chocolatey goodness.  Boo!

A Fairytale

Once upon a time there was a girl named Karen.  She woke up early one morning in horrible pain, so her husband took her to the emergency room.  Karen and her husband were there for five hours while the doctors ran blood tests and pushed and poked random places in her "abdomen".  (She may or may not have been chastised for calling it a stomach.)  It was then decided that Karen needed to wait for another day before the doctors could determine the problem, so Karen was sent home (after a shot of morphine).  At home, Karen got to sit in bed with an IV in her arm and drink the disgusting "juice" the nurse gave her in case she had to have surgery the next day.  The next morning, Karen woke up and went back to the ER ready for a second blood test.  It was determined by the third doctor in two days that this pain was not appendicitis.  Now, Karen is lying in bed at home, only drinking clear liquids, and still in pain.  There is still no diagnosis.  Goody.  The end.

Thank goodness for a loving husband, an amazing family, some great friends, and a kitty who sits with me while everyone is at school or work. 

Today I Love...

Today I love that my constant battle with the cashiers office, admissions office, and financial aid office is over, my graduation papers are almost done, I only have one class, and it finally snowed.

What do you love about today?

Meet Cleo

We have a new addition to our family!  Her name is Cleo.  Colt's parents got her at the grocery store on Christmas Eve. She is so fun to have. Her favorite activities include climbing legs, cuddling, playing with yarn or her jingle balls, and watching tv (no joke). She is a really good kitty and I love having her here with me while Colt is at work. Colt loves to play and cuddle with her too, even though he may not admit it.

Christmas

We spent 10 days of our break in Colorado with my family! It was so fun to be with my family and to introduce Colt to all of our traditions. We spent most of the break going to movies, playing the wii, playing games, eating tons of food, and enjoying our time together. On Christmas, we slept in, opened presents, and then spent a while talking to Matthew. It was so nice to all be gathered around the speakerphone on Christmas morning talking to him. For Christmas, Mom and Dad gave me Christmas dishes which I cannot wait to use next year! They are beautiful!

I can honestly say that after a great Christmas break with my family, I did not want to come back to Cedar, school, and a lonely apartment while Colt is at work. I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with my family.

Catching Up

I know, I know. We have lots of catching up to do. We just wanted to play all the time though, so there was no time for blogging. We did well in school last semester, and now we are trying to gear up for this semester. I found out today that I passed the exit exam! Yay! That means that the two standardized tests I had to pass to graduate are behind me! That was definitely a reason to celebrate.

The first thing we did on break is drive to Salt Lake for a weekend to see my family. We got to go to the Motab Christmas concert which was fabulous, and just spend time together walking around and looking at the beautiful lights in Salt Lake. We got to see some amazing gingerbread houses (I am sad to say that I have no pictures), and eat great food too.  It was a quick weekend, but a very good start to our break.

We spent the beginning of the next week hanging out in Cedar, and spending time with Colt's family in Hurricane. I finally finished both of our stockings!

Then we cleaned our apartment, packed, and got ready for the most amazing flight ever with Dan, Charlotte, and Emily. That is definitely the way to fly!