25 years...

Who knew getting a Masters Degree would be so expensive! I have just made my first student loan payment... my first of many! It's unfortunate that I had to take out loans to pay for an education - and even more unfortunate that I have to start paying them now, even though I just graduated about 4 months ago - and MOST unfortunate - that I will be paying on them every month for the next 25 years! But, I guess it's not a big deal! I mean, I learned a lot - because of my degree I am teaching at UVU so that's a good thing too! I had to extend the amount of time I pay on my student loans from 10 years to 25 years because I wasn't comfortable with the payment schedule that UHEAA and the FedLoan companies were giving me... I mean, I don't mind being poor - but dang! :) In any case, I'll pay without complaint because I have something to show for it! I guess that means I should take my licensing exam huh?! :) That's next on my to do list - after grading the finals from my first stint as a college professor! Wahoo!

Happy Holidays... Happy Holidays...

I love the holidays! I love the music, the smells... I love how happy everyone is at this time of year, I love buying and giving gifts, I love so many things about the holidays! One thing I do not love? SNOW! I hate snow! I know, why do I live in Utah if I hate snow so much?! I dunno, my parents moved here and I decided never to leave! I don't like shoveling - I don't like scraping ice and snow off my car - I don't like being cold - and I don't like the fact that lots of people don't know how to drive in snow (as evidenced by the 2 1/2 hour long trip it would take me to get to work just trying to avoid such idiots!) ... eew I just hate snow! Otherwise I love this time of year!

I love Christmas Parties! We have been to two already and still have another 3 ish to go to. We went to a party at our friends, the Newbolds - complete with an ugly sweater contest and a white elephant gift - that was pretty fun! Last night we went to my work Christmas Party! We had a nice dinner and chatted with each other and then were given gifts from our bosses... They gave everyone a new laptop and some giftcards! Crazy right?! They're the cute little Samsung tiny laptops that fit right in my purse! And the giftcards? Holy Cow! I was speechless! Seriously - I wasn't expecting anything at all! I thought maybe a nice card - maybe a small giftcard to Olive Garden or something - but I was completely shocked and surprised! It was crazy!

Things in my life as well as Travis' have been going pretty well - and when I start to question what I'm doing something like this happens and makes me feel like I really am doing what I should be. I'm doing the things I need to do and it's nice to have that kind of validation! There are things in our lives that aren't going as well as we had hoped - but you know, I guess that's life. So many things have gone well for us that it only makes sense that some things not go our way - as much as I hate it! I guess that's just something I have to learn to get used to right?!

Our Thanksgiving Reality...

Well, things went mostly according to plan for Thanksgiving and overall we had a fairly decent time. Here is what happened...

Thursday: My mom was called out on a Red Cross Mental Health something or other for the guy that got stuck in the Nutty Putty Caves - she had to do some bereavement counseling with workers and family members so she was gone from 4:00 a.m. until almost 12:30 p.m. It didn't put a damper on our Thanksgiving at all because my dad is a trooper and a great cook and he took over the extra parts of Thanksgiving that my mom would usually do. I think Melissa helped as well. Travis made the green bean casserole and boy was he proud of himself - We made it in the crockpot and it was much better than I remember it being last year. Probably because we had it at his family's house last year and it was pretty runny. ANYWAY - We had one of my mom's colleagues over for Thanksgiving dinner as well - Hagen (I probably spelled his name wrong) and he told us all about his anthropological dig in South America this summer and I will admit I was fascinated! Who knew you could tell so much about people and their political schema by their teeth! Crazy! After dinner we played a friendly round of Boxers or Briefs (this game is not sold in stores anymore but if you can get a copy of one I highly recommend it - it keeps us laughing for hours!). If you get a chance, ask Travis about my bootylicious mother! Good times! After the game we prepared our game plan for Black Friday and then Travis and I went home to relax for the rest of the day.

Friday: Travis and I woke up at 3:15 to leave the house by 3:30 to go to Kohls to buy 3 things. The doors opened at 4:00 a.m. and it was a madhouse by the time we go there. If you know the Jordan Landing area at all, you will know what I'm talking about. The line started at the doors on the west side, wrapped around to the north and all the way around the east side of the store... it was a LONG line! Travis and I were in line right in front of the Northern doors. Luckily, Travis and I went in and knew where we were going and got all 3 things that we wanted and got in line right away. We were out of Kohls by 4:30. We thought everywhere opened at 4 so we went to Target and Best Buy but they weren't open and instead of waiting for them to open we decided to go home and back to bed. We woke up again around 8:30 in the morning and got ready and packed up to head out to St. George. With our trunk full of dog stuff, our one duffel bag for people stuff and a tummy full of churros - we loaded ourselves and carmel corn from the popcorn cottage into my car and were on our way to St. George by 10:45 a.m. We got there at about 3 o'clock - I think we made rather good time! When we were walking out to the casita to unload our stuff Lucy (having never been at the in-laws before and having never seen a pool before) tried to take a short cut across the lawn and jumped unknowingly right into the deep end of the pool. Within seconds she was doggy paddling across the pool to the other side where Travis pulled her out! It's a good thing she can swim because I didn't want to jump in fully clothed! After that excitement we unpacked our stuff and hung out until the other family got there. That evening we had dinner and watched G.I. Joe before going to bed pretty early! I did get a phone call from my brother around 9:10 p.m. saying that little Conner Jason had been born just then, I even heard him cry! He's a hefty baby of 9 lbs and 20 1/2 in. Brian said he would send me a picture! Yay for being an Aunt again!

Saturday: When we woke up this morning we were going to take it easy since it was Thanksgiving again. However, everyone else had other plans. Annette, Sara, and myself went to a craft fair (I only spent $12.00!!!) and then to Kohls to do some shopping while the kids swam. By the time we got home I was ready to swim as well and hopped in with everyone else. Travis spent about 5 hours in the pool and I was in there for probably 2 1/2. It was nice and relaxing. We tried to get the dogs in the pool, but they were NOT getting close to the water. I guess they knew! :) After we swam we got all ready again for Thanksgiving dinner followed by Four Christmases. Again, Travis and I had a pretty early night.

Sunday: Travis and I woke up, got ready, packed up, had breakfast, rolled up the pool cover and drove home! We were out of there by 10:45 ish again and drove the LONG drive home. Of course, we took a short cut and stopped in Springville to see baby Conner. What a darling little boy! He has such chubby cheeks and knees... such a cutie pie! The poor little guy is all bruised from the forceps and such, but I guess that's just how it goes right?! Austin didn't seem to care about the baby while we were there even though he had only met him just before we got there! After holding my precious nephew we went back home the rest of the way, unpacked, and just lazed around until bedtime.

Sadly, we had a really uneventful Thanksgiving - although there was some unspoken drama and anger at Thanksgiving on Saturday - it was quite a long weekend. Travis and I didn't have time to just hang out, clean the house, and do our regular weekend routine things... So, when we had to wake up for work yesterday - it was really difficult to get out of bed!!! I'm hoping that soon enough we will have our own family and can create our own traditions for holidays rather than have to fit everyone elses plans.... We will see won't we!!!

Thanksgiving Happenings

Well, our plans are ever changing for Thanksgiving - but so far this is what we are planning...

Thursday: Thanksgiving with the Doty Family
Friday: Shopping - I love me some Black Friday Deals!!!! Then driving to St. George
Saturday: Thanksgiving with the Cornett's and Johnson's
Sunday: Drive back home

AND - somewhere in there... meet our new nephew! Yay! Baby Conner will come sometime then! Sarah is being induced on Friday so we are hoping to see the little guy before we leave - otherwise, we will see him on Sunday! Yay! I'm so excited! I'll let you know how it all goes!

Basic Info...

Nothing much has changed in our lives, except the fact that Travis is getting ready to become a business owner. He and his two business partners are starting their own franchise of Ameriprise - in essence they will be Privatizing their work. They will be able to work with their clients in ways that are better for the clients and won't have to worry about the red tape of being an employee and satisfying the boss. It's funny because this situation is very deja-vu for us. I mean, after we got married I was toying wtih the idea of becoming a private support coordinator and had so many questions and sleepless nights wondering if it would be good for us and if we would be able to make it. There are so many unknowns in changing jobs and going "private". I feel bad for Travis because I know he is feeling what I felt just 5 months ago. I am completely confident in his capabilities - and I know we will be just fine! It is a little stressful thinking that we will likely have to put our home up for collateral in order to get the business loan they need to "buy their books" - but I know that Travis will be so great at this! He is so smart, he is genuinely caring, he respects people, and he truly wants what is best for his clients! He is an amazing financial planner/advisor and has helped so many people - I know he will continue to do well! The unknown is just a little scary! So, if anyone needs a financial advisor - I happen to know a guy! :)

I am still working as a private support coordinator and I love it - I wish I had done it sooner! It is really a great job! I am also still teaching at UVU - this semester I'm teaching the Case Management class, but next semester I'm teaching two sections of Intro. to Social Work. That should be fun. It will cut down my commute time by once per week - so that's kind of nice. Isn't it funny that I lived down in Orem and commuted to Salt Lake for work - and now I live in Salt Lake and commute to Orem for some work... Funny how that happens. It is such a great opportunity for me and is really helping me decide if I want to get a PhD or not (as of now I'm thinking NOT)! My jobs are going well and I'm pretty happy. I still haven't taken my licensing exam yet - it's been a while - I haven't studied and I'm freaked out! I just need to buckle down and do it! Oye!

Otherwise, nothing much is going on. Still doing WW with a friend - I've lost 7 lbs. If she wasn't doing it with me I don't think I would be doing it. It's hard to be motivated on your own - especially this time of the year! I love candy and pumpkin everything so Halloween was hard. I love turkey and stuffing and gravy and every other food typically eaten at Thanksgiving - so that's going to be hard. I love peppermint and goodies so Christmas will be hard. Plus, I'm really enjoying cooking - so that's making it hard too! I just need more self control!!!! Ugh - it's a constant battle!

Oh, on the sibling front - Spencer is doing well and he is still in the Provo MTC until further notice! Melissa came home yesterday - she's still the same Melissa. Brian, Sarah, Austin and Baby Connor are doing well. Sarah is due soon, poor thing looks so tired and just ready to have the baby already! I can't wait to have another nephew - especially since Austin is so stinking cute - I'm sure Connor will be just as cute! Shayla - I love my little Shayla! She is such a good girl - I get to see her three times a week when I'm teaching at UVU so that's nice. I wish I could spend more time with her though - Sometimes I just need a little Shayla time! Maybe this weekend we will do something fun! Our dogs... they're just dogs! Lucy is as crazy as ever, and Baxter just hangs out, although lately he has been laying on the floor directly below me demanding to be under the blanket I use... it's kind of cute!

Until next time....

The Best Two Years

Well, today we sent my littlest sibling - Spencer - to the MTC. Yup, He is off to serve a mission in Belo Horizante Brazil. It was a different experience sending him out than it was anyone else for several reasons!

1. Spencer is the first to go out of the country! Brian went to Nashville - I went to Tucson - Melissa is in Washington State - and Spencie is off to South America - CRAZY!

2. We found out last week that he would not be flying directly to the Brazil MTC because they were having visa problems... so instead of taking him to the airport - we send him to the Provo MTC until his visa comes through and then he will be shipped out to Brazil.

3. He is the youngest in the family! Yes, that means we're all old! Even Shayla who is only 40 minutes older than Spencer!

4. They don't do the feel good Called to Serve movie and inspiration thought by the MTC president and his wife. Now, you pull up to the curb, help your missionary get his luggage out of the car, give him a hug and off you go! It didn't feel like a natural departure to me! There was no lingering, there were no kleenex, there was no trying to see him walk down the sidewalk as you exit to your car... It was so weird!

and finally... I feel sort of parental feelings for Spencer. I was almost 9 when the twins were born and I spent a lot of time with them while they were growing up - and I remember it all like it happened yesterday! I remember Spencer being afraid of the Thunder and crawling into my bed with me late at night so he wouldn't be alone. I remember so many things about his life - and spent a lot of time babysitting him - that it makes me really sad!

I didn't cry at the MTC - I didn't cry until I had dropped off Chase at the house and I left to drive back to Salt Lake. He had better write me!

It was time for a change...

For some reason I feel like I'm changing. My goals, my wants, my needs, my everything is changing. I won't give too much detail - but I feel like I'm turning into a grown up maybe! Is that weird? I am afterall 28 years old now, I should be an adult! Anyway, I figured because I FEEL like i'm changing, it might be a good idea to actually make some changes... Here are a few of them...

1. Off the soda - I did this for almost two years and then decided to take it up again. No lies - I love Mt. Dew - so this is hard for me! There will be days when I need one and when those days come I will have to decide if it's worth the 3 points to me....

2. Yes I said points - I went back to WW last night. A good friend went with me and we will be going together - it's nice to have someone to help support me in this terrifying endeavor of weekly weigh-ins and meetings. I was successful last year - I will be even more successful and will stick with it this year!

3. Walking the Dogs - except in snow! Does that count? Travis and I want to walk the dogs every day. It will give us some much needed exercise and it will give the dogs some time to get rid of their pent up energy (staying inside with me while I do paperwork has got to be boring!). Plus, maybe we will meet some more of our neighbors this way! They will actually know that people live in our house!

4. BUDGET! yes, I spend too much money and I know it. We are working on a budget that doesn't sacrifice our lifestyle for our goals and visa versa. Since Travis is a financial planner it works out well for us! He is so smart when it comes to money and has seriously saved my financial life! So, we are going to be smarter with our money! We've gotta save more so we can do the things we want - Travel, Finish the bathroom in the basement, travel some more... you know, the important things in life.

5. No Texting while I drive! And this one is a huge/hard one for me! I drive a lot! Less than when I commuted daily - but since I teach at UVU 3 times each week, I'm in the car my fair share! BUT - I'm trying to stop texting while I drive. I know it's illegal - so is speeding and we all do that too! Anyway - I'm working on it and I'm getting better at it!

So... these may be small in the grand scheme of things - but I have to start somewhere right!?