tagged

Um, I think I've been tagged like 10 times, and have never done any of them...but I guess this one looks easy enough. Here goes...

Four jobs I've had: this is a little pathetic, since I avoid working
1. Lindamood-Bell - reading clinician
2. Curves
3. Interviwer - ROC
4. Purdy's Chocolates - best chocolate ever

Four movies I could watch over and over: this is hard, I hate when I know what's going to happen
1. Stardust
2. Disney princess movies
3. Newsies
4. I can't think of any more...

Four places I have lived:
1. CANADA
2. Utah
3. Idaho
4. Washington

Four TV shows I love:
1. 24
2. What Not to Wear
3. Biggest Loser
4. American Idol

Four places I have vacationed: I lead a sheltered life
1. I prefer Canada :)
2. California when I was 12
3. Park City
4. BC and Utah to visit family when I was younger

Four of my favorite dishes/foods:
1. Rice
2. Pasta
3. Soup
4. Sandwiches
But, I must add a note that I, like Melinda, LOVE the Burn Barrel. Mmmmm...

Four sites I visit daily: well, maybe not daily, but yeah
1. Yahoo
2. Peoples' blogs
3. Facebook
4. Real Simple

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Home in Canada
2. Portland
3. Hawaii - even though I've never been there before
4. Somewhere in Europe - England, France, Germany, Spain? Never been, but I think I'd like it
(By the way, Melinda, I think you should come visit me! Get out of Rexburg!)

The last thing I'm supposed to do is tag four people. I don't know who to tag. The people I would tag have already done this. Anyone who wants to...

and it's january

It has been a couple of months since I last posted anything on here. I haven't had my computer set up since we left Idaho in December, so, a lot has happened since I last blogged.

Ryan graduated from BYU-I on December 14, 2007 in Construction Management. He took a job with Lydig Construction as an estimator, so we packed up and moved. We lived with Joe and Leslie for over a month - thank you for having us, and for everything! Ryan graduated on a Friday and stared working on the following Tuesday. It was a little crazy, but I'm so proud of him! He likes the company and is doing great. He's a real working man, can't you tell?


We spent Christmas with the Dahles. With the exception of Rachel's husband, Ben, who is in Iraq, Ryan's whole family was home for the holidays. Even his grandparents and some of his aunts, uncles, and cousins came for Christmas. It was a full house - literally! It was fun with all of the kids. Here's a Christmas picture of the cousins:

On January 22nd we closed on our house! We are still in the process of moving in - waiting for carpet to be installed upstairs, and are painting in the meantime. I'll post pictures soon. I have been keeping busy scrubbing every inch of the house, organizing, unpacking, and shopping for things we need. It's a lot of work moving into a house - somehow unlike our previous experiences moving into apartments. There's so much more to do. I suppose I just care more because this is actually ours this time. Come visit!

Now that things are getting settled, I'm going to start substitute teaching. As hard as I try to come up with one, I really have no excuse to stay home all day everyday. I figure subbing will allow me to work when I want, as often as I want, and also allow me to take time off when I want. That's the plan. I'll let you know how that goes.

another diaper bag

If I could spend all of my free time sewing and painting, I would be happy. My sewing machine is one of my most favorite things.

I made this diaper bag for my sister-in-law, Rachel, for Christmas. It's extra big, and I love the Dick and Jane fabric. That was my favorite. I was really tempted to keep it, but decided I really didn't have any use for it, and hoped Rachel would love it.

sewing project complete

I love the sewing machine my mom and dad gave me when I graduated! I have been getting quite a bit of use out of it. I made my mom and sisters each a purse this past summer, and also made myself a purse. So, one of Tiera's friends saw her purse/scripture bag and asked if I would make her a diaper bag. It was fun, but harder and more time consuming than the other projects. Here's how it turned out. Pretty cute, but I think there are a few things I'd do differently if I make another one. Hope Tiera's friend likes it!

Front:

Back:

first snow

It snowed in Rexburg on Saturday! Perfect, sticky snow - so this is what we found when we heard a knock at the door after the first session of General Conference. Mike and Melinda were very sneaky (okay, maybe not so sneaky) and built a huge snowman right at our door. So funny.So, we took advantage of the nice weather and sticky snow - Ryan and Mike dismantled the snowman to built a work of art...And it begins...shoveling all the snow to the front of our apartment...

Ta-da!
Gilbert is finished!

catch up

Okay, so it has been a while since my last post - probably because we haven't had time to do anything too exciting. We finished off the summer in Washington, both working long days, and have since returned to good old Rexburg.

Here's the condensed version of the last couple of months:

Ryan and I went with some friends to a Mariners baseball game in July. They lost. It was pretty fun anyways, and a beautiful night...not even one drop of rain. It was a miracle. We were right above the bull pen, which was kind of fun, but I do have to say that the whole stadium and field looked a lot smaller in real life than it does on TV.

We also went to a Seahawks preseason game in August...which was even more fun! So loud. People are crazy. They won! A real live football game is WAY more fun than watching on TV. That's all I have to say about that. Like our faces?

I got to go home to Canada for a visit at the end of August! I finished work a week before Ryan, so I figured there was no point in sitting around doing nothing, waiting for him to finish. I got to stay home for a week and a half. Mom and I went out to Brooks to see Grandma and Grandpa and everyone else. It was fun! I love being home to spend time with my family, and catch up with friends. I'm already missing home, and trying to figure out when I can go visit again!

The day I got back to Washington from Canada (September 6, 2007), Erin had her baby! Xander Leigh Silliman. So, Ryan and I went down to Portland to see the Sillimans a few days later! He is so small and soft and sweet. And, it was fun to play with Olivia, too. She is so crazy and fun and cute! One thing that makes me happy about living in Seattle (when Ryan finished up school in December) is that we won't be too far from Erin, Gregg, and the babies!

Now, we are back in Rexburg. Ryan is finishing up his last semester...finally. It is really weird to be living here and not going to school. I have to go out job hunting today. Boo. All there really is in Rexburg is fastfood and Wal Mart. I don't think I can do that. I'm going to have to see what other options are out there, and whether or not any places are hiring...since there are so many students here who are all working, there probably isn't much left. Good luck to me.

So, here we go again...I'll keep you posted.

megan climbing at deception crags

Almost to the top! - REACH!

ryan climbing at deception crags

-Ryan leading- -Ryan Belaying-

On the trail near North Bend, WA

in the shop

Ryan and Joe always have to have multiple projects going. Today's project - a chair.

OH CANADA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIERA!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

home alone

Ryan went on a 4 day, 3 night hike/camp with some of his old friends from high school. He was so excited and happy to go - just like the old days before college, mission, and marriage. He left Thursday morning, and will be coming home Sunday night. So, here I am with all this time to myself...

It's very quiet around here - even a little bit lonely, but it's been okay. I baked cookies last night...chocolate-cinnamon chocolate chip cookies. Yes. Yummmmm. You know you want them. Here's the recipe if you're interested - I found it on allrecipes.com, and added the cinnamon. I ate two for breakfast...I know, really healthy, right?!

COOKIES
1 C butter, softened
1 1/2 C white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
2/3 C cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 C chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Combine dry mixture with creamed mixture. Add chocolate chips. Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes. Done.

I have also been painting. I am working on one, and have three others drawn out, ready to start painting. I'll post them when I finish them, and when I have the camera. (Ryan took it with him on his hike - so I will also take pictures of my sewing projects when he gets back). So, I'm keeping myself busy, and even having a good time all by my lonesome! But, I'll be glad when Ryan gets home, too.

I start a new job on Monday - tutoring for a summer reading program. I admit, I'm not too excited, just because I'd rather not work at all (hah), but I think it will be a good job, and we can always use the money. The more we make this summer the better - with school this semester for Ryan, and then looking to buy a house or condo...yikes! I don't know how we're going to do it!

So, everyone have a great day...and Happy Father's day to all the dads...especially my Dad! Love you!

sewing

Mom got me a sewing machine for graduation in April, and I LOVE it!!! I am having so much fun playing with it. So far I have only done one project. I made a tote bag. It's pretty cute, but bigger than I want, so I am going to make a smaller one...and maybe another one after that? Haha. I think sewing is my new favorite hobby at the moment. After I get a little more practice in, I want to make myself a skirt, and after that, who knows! I'm a sewing-machine on my sewing machine. (Get it? Haha). I am fully enjoying my time of no responsibility, having all day to myself to do what I please! (Minus the couple of days I work at Curves). I only have a week and a half left to enjoy it before starting a full time job, so I'm going to have as much relaxing fun as possible!

Good thing I am having so much fun sewing, because there's really nothing else going on here. When living in Enumclaw, it's a big deal if I get out of the apartment and go to Walmart! (Which I did today - to get more fabric. Ha.) It just takes so long to get anywhere. I have learned this for certain about myself - I am NOT a country girl. I like living near grocery stores, malls, Walmart and other conveniences, and I don't like cows, horses, or cats. But for now, I can do the country thing...knowing that it's only for a few more months.

Okay, off to start another project. Maybe I'll post some pictures of my progress later.

girls week at erin's house

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

a bunch of hill-billies shooting guns in the woods

Megan's sister, Tiera, came with us up to the property on the Hood Canal. For Tiera's first time even touching a gun she had a great shot just like her sister, Megan. Yes, Tia we were very safe and cautious and taught safety and proper use of guns. We all had fun up at the property; Mom, Dad, Chad, Jesse, and Lisa came along as well. It is starting to look nice up there with all the vegetation coming in.

-Ryan

our enumclaw apartment

At Melinda's request...here are some pictures of where we are living for the summer! It is a studio apartment above what used to be Joe and Leslie's garage (which is now an exercise room and soon to be an extension of the apartment for when Rachel and her kids get here!) So, it is pretty small, but good for the next couple of months...










And yes, that is the whole apartment, except for the bathroom which is just left of the bed. Fun times!

mt. peak

Yes! Megan stood on top of Mt. Peak in Enumclaw, WA. Mt. Peak is 2 mile round trip with a thousand feet vertical climb. Go Megan!

-Ryan

mt. rainier

The greatest mountain ever! (From our backyard)

-Ryan

in the garden

Over the past couple of days, we have been working on the front yard to surprise Leslie for her birthday! The boys pulled some of the old plants out and reworked the pond while the girls planted some flowers. It's not completely finished yet, but it's getting there.

Chad, Ryan, and Jesse - all hard at work...

...and me and Kate with the cute little flower bed we planted!

finished

So, we've been in Washington for almost three weeks now, and I still don't have a job. Oh the joys of job hunting. Therefore, I've had a lot of time to paint - which I love! I am running out of canvases...the only ones I have left are really small, which I don't like as much. This is my latest painting...inspired by an artist I really like. Just love the bright colors and simple lines he uses, so I decided to make my own version of one of his paintings (mine is MUCH less detailed). So, this is how I have been spending my time, while Ryan works, works, works all day long. Not fair, I know!

Ryan is doing good with his internship. He likes the company and the people he is working with. His boss told him to start looking for a house, so it looks like this might become a permanent job after he finishes his last semester at BYU-I this fall. Kind of exciting, kind of scary! Good job, Ryan!