debra and ryan

Summer FUN!

2011-08-12T14:42:00.015-05:00

It is hard to believe that the summer is almost over and I haven't blogged for months. Peach is getting bigger and more animated each day. She is starting to finally get a little hair and she is scooting around on the floor. She is definitely not crawling yet, but she can move in a semi-circle to reach for toys. I am grateful that she is still immobile, it makes my job a lot easier. She just turned 9 months old. It is going by fast, but we are enjoying every minute.

This summer has gone by quick and pretty uneventful. In June, my whole family was here visiting. We spent time with them in Midway. We went to the Hogle Zoo, Heritage Park, Timpanogos Caves, and of course family pictures. (Ryan's favorite part) After my family went home, all of Ryan's family was here for more fun. It was fun to see all the cousins, especially Preston. He was born a week before peach, but he is almost twice as big. They went to Lagoon, seven peaks, and more family pictures!! Other than a couple trips to Richfield, we have stayed home all summer. We have a couple trips coming up in the next few months, Chicago, Disneyland and Arizona.

The House

2011-04-27T11:37:00.022-05:00

We have been living in our new house for about two months. We didn't own much furniture because we were previously living in a 1100 square foot apartment in Minneapolis. So we have purchased a lot of new furniture to fill up our new house. And we still have a long way to go. As you can see most of our walls are still bare. I am definitely struggling with the decorating. If you have any decorating tips, they would be greatly appreciated!

FAMILY ROOM: We love our new couch and entertainment center. The couch is so comfortable and it reclines. I am having a hard time deciding on a coffee table. I am not sure what shape would fit the best: round vs. square vs. rectangle?? I also have been looking for a large picture to go above the fireplace.
KITCHEN & DINING ROOM: I absolutely love my kitchen!! Eventually I want to get a bigger dining room table and bar stools.
BABY ROOM & BATHROOM: I have lots of work to do in the nursery. I want to get pictures to put up on the shelf and I need to hang up her curtains.

MASTER BEDROOM: We bought new bedroom furniture and bedding. I need to get something to put over the bed, curtains, and bedside lamps.

LIVING ROOM: We bought a new piano and couch. I have orderd two accent chairs in the fabric above, but I am still waiting for them to get delivered. I have been looking for a huge mirror to go above the couch. Any ideas??

GUEST BEDROOM: We have our old bedroom furniture in the guest room. We have already had quite a few visitors. We love having visitors! (hint, hint)

GARAGE: We also just bought a new car to go in the garage. I have been driving my father-in-law's green volvo wagon since we moved back from Minneapolis. Finally we have our own car. It is an Acura MDX and it is really fun to drive.

I had to post a few more picture of peaches. She keeps getting cuter everyday!

Pictures of Peaches....finally!

2011-04-18T16:11:00.005-05:00

Here she is....5 months old and almost sitting up on her own. I just about gave up on my blog, but I have had several requests for photos of baby Allison. We are still calling her Peaches or Baby Peach. She is truly a bundle of joy! She is happy and smiling about 95% of the day. She eats like a champ and sleeps through the night. I couldn't have asked for a better baby. We are having so much fun with her. She finally rolled over for the first time at 5 months. The picture below is of her with her cousin, they are the same age! She is definitely small for her age, but she is growing fast. She has big chubby thighs and a little double chin. At her last appointment she weighed about 12 pounds. I will try to post pictures at least once per month.

Pictures of the new house and furniture.....COMING SOON!!

Blessing Day

2011-01-04T14:46:00.003-06:00

Our baby girl finally went to church for the first time on her blessing day. She wore the same dress that her cousins wore when they were blessed. Her cousin Halee wore this dress when she was sealed in the temple. Ryan gave her a wonderful blessing. We are having so much fun with her. She has just started to smile and laugh at us. She is almost 2 months old and it is going by so fast.

She didn't like all the itchy lace on her dress, but she looked beautiful!

First Stroller Ride

2010-12-15T12:31:00.003-06:00

We have been lucky to have such a mild December this year. We were able to take Allison out for her first stroller ride. This would not have been possible if we were still living in Minneapolis. The midwest has been hit with tons of snow and below zero temperatures. Everytime I watch the weather it makes me grateful that we are back in Utah. Last week, it was 50 degrees and sunny. We bundled her up in her new stroller. At first she didn't know what to think, but she loved being outside and eventually fell asleep. We are excited to experience many more 'firsts.'

PEACHES IS FINALLY HERE!!

2010-11-17T16:58:00.006-06:00

40 weeks

My life has changed dramatically since I last blogged. I am a MOM!! Allison was born on November 12th at 3:01 a.m. She was smaller than expected and weighed only 5 pounds 15 ounces, 18 inches long. I was induced on my due date, but she was born the next day. I was really hoping that I would go into labor on my own without being induced. The day before my due date I didn't feel her moving very much. I was a little worried so I called my doctor the next day and they asked me to come in and get monitored. When they hooked me up to the monitor her heart rate wasn't going up and I wasn't feeling any movements. They told me to go to the hospital and they would monitor me for a few more hours, if it didn't improve then they would induce me. I drove to the hospital by myself (Ryan was still at work) and checked in. They hooked me up to the monitors and then she started doing much better. Ryan finally arrived. I thought they were going to send me home. Then the doctor came in and asked me if I was ready to have a baby tonight. He told the nurse to start the pitocin at around 7:00 p.m. My contractions started getting really bad after about 4 hours, but I was still only dilated to a 3. I held out as long as I could, but after only a few really bad contractions I was begging for my epidural. The anesthesiologist was incredible! I didn't even feel the epidural, and then I didn't have any pain. I could still move my legs and feel a little pressure during contractions. The doctor broke my water around midnight and then I started to dilate quickly. The nurse checked me once and I was 5 centimeters, then she came back an hour later and I was 9 3/4. They told me not to push until the doctor arrived. I only pushed for about twenty minutes and she was here. She came out pink and screaming. My first thought was that she was so tiny and perfect! She weighed only 5 pounds 15 ounces, but she looked healthy with cute chubby cheeks. My parents and Ryan's mom were in the room for the birth. Nobody got any sleep that night. Her blood sugar was low right after she was born and they had to give her some formula. Luckily, she is a good eater and she didn't have to have a feeding tube.

We had lots of visitors in the hospital. We were both discharged together on Saturday. All of the cute outfits that I brought to the hospital were too big. I wasn't expecting her to be so small. She wore the smallest pajama's that I had and they still looked way to big. She hated her car seat. After we left the hospital, we went straight to Babys 'R' Us to buy some preemie clothes and diapers.

We are currently living with our in-laws and I still don't have a crib. She will be sleeping in a bassinet until we move into our own house. I had been nesting for the past two weeks. I put together her bouncy chair, swing, stroller, and glider chair. She has a closet full of clothes, but they are all too big. Hopefully, she will grow into them soon. She is a good eater and a pretty good sleeper. Neither of us got much sleep the first few nights, but she is getting better.

We took her to her first doctors visit when she was 4 days old. It was a big ordeal to get her loaded in the car seat and out of the house. She weighed 5 pounds 14 ounces at her appointment. The doctor said she is doing great! Unfortunately, Ryan woke up with a sore throat and fever the next day. He hardly ever gets sick. I was really paranoid that he would get her sick, so I wouldn't let him touch her. I took her down to Richfield while he was working. So far, mom and baby are healthy and Ryan is almost 100% better. We are having so much fun with her! She is a good baby. All she does is eat, sleep, poop and occasionally cry. We have been taking tons of pictures, so check back often for updates. I wish she could stay this little forever, but she keeps getting bigger and cuter everyday.

Summer Fun!!

2010-09-26T22:45:00.008-05:00

I really can't say that I have been 'too busy' to blog. Since we moved to Provo I have had oodles of time on my hands. Most of my free time has been spent getting ready for baby. I have bought enough clothes to last her until her first birthday. Yep, I have definitely gone overboard in the clothes department. I can't help it, everything is so tiny and cute. I will have to change her clothes at least three times a day so she can wear everything at least once. But I am still far from ready, no crib and the nursery is a mess. We are still living with our in-laws until we buy a house. So she might be sleeping in her pack-and-play for a while until we get settled. My belly is getting huge and I still have 6 weeks to go! I don't understand how it can keep growing.

We have tried to take advantage of our last summer before baby. Ryan and I both took some time off before we started working again. I was able to attend my 10 year high school reunion. We have taken trips to Richfield, St. George, and Park City and also had plenty of fun visitors. In August we took a trip to Ponderay, Idaho for a week of relaxation. It is a family tradition and I felt lucky to be included this year. It has been a great summer and now we are excited for baby to come. She is due on November 11, but I hope she comes a little early. This pregnancy has gone by so slow, and I can't wait to meet her!

Goodbye Minneapolis!

2010-08-14T13:57:00.008-05:00

July was a busy month! I quit working in June and spent most my time getting ready to move. I also took a trip to Oklahoma to visit my sister and see Carlee get baptized. My parents drove across the country to help us move home. Ryan finished his residency on June 30 and we had most the truck and trailer packed by the time he got home from work. We had a lot more stuff than I thought! I sold the majority of our furniture on craigslist: 3 piece white furniture set, ryan's recliner chair, my armoire, small table and chairs, the wave, and my car. I was really grateful to sell my car so we didn't have to drive two cars home. I had a 2004 white Honda Accord coupe. I will really miss that car!! But with a baby on the way I definitely need to upgrade to something bigger. We loaded up all our furniture and belongings in my dad's truck and trailer and drove out of Minneapolis on June 30. We had a few minor problems on the long drive home, but it could have been a lot worse. Ryan's car broke down in Denver, but luckily his brother was there to bail us out. Ryan spent an extra day in Denver to get the car fixed before coming to Richfield. I made it home on July 2nd just in time for my 10 year Richfield High School reunion. It was fun to see everyone, most people have at least 2-3 kids. I will have to hurry if I am going to catch up by our 15 year reunion. We spent the fourth of July in Richfield. Ryan and I ran the Liberty 5K, went to the parade, ate lunch in Fishlake, and watched fireworks at Lion's Park. I love the fourth of July in Richfield!! Now we are living in Provo with Ryan's parents until we buy a house. Life is pretty good!

We had a wonderful two years in Minneapolis! There are several things that we will miss. But we are excited to be back in Utah with new jobs and our first baby on the way.

I'm PREGNANT and its a GIRL!!

2010-06-17T14:03:00.013-05:00

Most of you already know that I am expecting my first baby in November. I just had my ultrasound and found out that we are having a GIRL!! We are still in shock. We were 100% sure that it would be a boy. Three weeks before my ultrasound I took a gender pee test and it said BOY. We were calling him "junior" and planning to name him Jordan. Now we have to start thinking of girl names. I would have been thrilled either way, but a small part of me was really hoping for a girl. I have 3 sisters and I am used to dolls, tea parties, and dressing up. I feel like this pregnancy is going so slow. I can't wait to meet my little princess!

The pregnancy so far has been a breeze. In the first trimester, I had a little bit of nausea but I never threw up. Now I am in my second trimester and I have no symptoms except hunger! I crave salty foods: salt and vinegar chips, pickles, and french fries. I feel so good that sometimes I forget I am pregnant. Except for the fact that my pants are getting really tight. I can still wear a couple of my jeans, but I will be switching to maternity pants soon. I have gained about 10 pounds so far and I am almost half way. I have a feeling I will gain a lot more in the second half.

Only one more week until we are moving back home. I have sold most of our furniture on craigs list. Ryan even agreed to get rid of his laz-e-boy recliner. We kept our bed, couch, and of course the TV. My mom and dad have graciously offered to drive out with a truck and trailer to help us move. I am going to Oklahoma this weekend for my neices baptism. The day after I get home we are moving. We still don't have a place to live, but at least we both have jobs. Ryan will be working for a pediatric dentist with offices in Draper and West Jordan. I will be working at the same family practice office in Bountiful where I worked before we moved. The temporary plan is to move into Ryan's parents basement until we find our own place. We have a lot of changes coming this year: moving back to Utah, new jobs, new house, and NEW BABY!!

Girls Trip to San Diego & Family Trip to Denver

2010-06-16T16:46:00.008-05:00

It has been a while since I last blogged. May was a busy month for us, but now that I am unemployed I have more time on my hands. I quit my job on June 4 to relax and get ready to move. It is hard to believe that our time in Minneapolis is almost over. There are several things that I will miss (Granite City, running by the river, and my job), and several things that I won't miss (winter, being away from family, and potholes). They just built a brand new baseball stadium near our apartment and we have been to a couple of Twins games. Now we are just winding down and looking forward to being back in Utah.

In May, I flew to San Diego to be with my girls. I was so fun to have a whole weekend full of girl talk. I haven't made many good friends in Minneapolis, so I was really in desperate need of some girl time. Our weekend was filled with shopping, laying out on the beach, eating, and lots of talking. It was exactly what I needed. I love my girlfriends!

In May, we also went to Chicago and Denver in the same weekend. Ryan had to present his final project at the AAPD conference in Chicago. We were only there for 2 days, but we made the most of our time. I was able to spend one day with my friend Debra and her son Max. We went to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Then we flew to Denver to spend time with Ryan's family for his brothers graduation from medical school. We went to the Denver Zoo and the new Shrek Movie.

Family Vacation

2010-04-24T12:05:00.006-05:00

You may notice that Ryan is not in any of my pictures. Unfortunately, he was unable to take the time off work. So I left him and went to Hawaii with my family and I had a fabulous time. My parents have a time share on the west coast of Oahu. It is absolute paradise! It was a very relaxing trip. I spent a lot of time laying by the pool, reading my book, and soaking up the sun. We had all visited Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Culture Center on a previous family vacation. So instead we spent more time on the beach and sight seeing. It was fun to spend time with my parents and sister. They really know how to have a good time! I am amazed at how active my parents are, my dad went running every morning. I joined him once, but I was usually still sleeping when he got home. We hiked to the top of Diamond Head volcano. What an amazing view from the top! I can't wait to go back.

It could be worse!

2010-03-04T18:46:00.006-06:00

Oops, I forgot our passports. We had a fabulous vacation, but it started a one day late. We were planning to fly out early Saturday morning and arrive in Acapulco the same day. We got up at 4:45 a.m. to catch our flight. We took the train to the airport and arrived with plenty of time. We were checking in and that is the moment I realized that I forgot our passports! How could I be so stupid?? I am usually so organized and think of everything. Unfortunately we didn't have time to rush home to get them before our flight left. We were able to get booked on a later flight to Phoenix on Saturday and would fly to Acapulco the next day. The low point was when we had to take the train home and then walk from the train station in the freezing cold with our luggage. At least we were able to get to Phoenix and spent time with Ryan's family. His mom was also town visiting. We were able to get a last minute hotel near the airport. "It could be worse." (We said that a lot.) The next day our flight to Acapulco was delayed by two hours. "It could be worse." We finally made it to sunny Acapulco on Sunday evening. And it was definitely worth the wait. The resort was breathtaking! Lucky for Ryan we happened to be there the same week as the Mexican Open tennis tournament and it was in walking distance of our hotel. I spent two nights at the tennis tournament and Ryan went one night without me. We had perfect weather, sunny and high 80's everyday. We did lots of relaxing in the sun, reading, and long walks on the beach. Ryan had a blast riding waves on a boogie board. Our resort was 20 minutes away from downtown Acapulco. One day we took a city tour and saw all the tourist attractions, including the famous cliff divers. We took a cab into town for dinner and a movie one night. (We saw "Valentine's Day" and I loved it!) We were definitely not ready to leave paradise. At the airport on our way home we saw Sam Querry and John Isner (American tennis players). Now Ryan wants to go to Acapulco every year, but next time I won't forget our passports.

Sam Querry at the airport. (He is tall!)

Go Vikings!!

2010-01-19T21:53:00.009-06:00

We live in Minnesota Vikings territory. The people out here are serious about their football team. I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan since Troy Aikman and Emmett Smith won the Superbowl in 1992. We got tickets to the Vikings playoff game before we knew who they would be playing. I was excited when I found out they would be playing the Cowboys. I really wanted to wear a pink Romo jersey to the game. Ryan warned me that I would get beat up by a crazed Vikings fan if I showed up in Cowboys apparel. The metrodome was filled with purple and gold. In hindsight, I am glad that wore purple. The Cowboys got crushed by the Vikings, 34-3. This city will shut down if the Vikings make it to the superbowl. The day after the game Ryan got interviewed by a local news station about the game. He was featured on the 10 o'clock news. Here's the link- http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/fans-excited-about-vikings-super-bowl-potential

The most wonderful time of year!

2010-01-19T21:20:00.005-06:00

Ryan and I had a fabulous Christmas vacation. We were both able to get off work to go home for 10 days. We both really needed a break to spend time with family. We flew home the day before a huge blizzard hit Minneapolis. We were actually lucky that our flight was able to take off. We got delayed in Denver, but eventually we made it home. Oh, home sweet home!! We both had plenty of R&R. Ryan wore his PJ's and slippers for the majority of the trip. We got spoiled with presents and had lots of fun with our nieces and nephews. We went sledding, bowling, and saw a few movies. But my favorite part of Christmas time....is the FOOD!! There was always plenty to eat and lots of sweets. All of our siblings were able to come home this year. I hope that we can continue to be together every year for Christmas.

It's a brand new year. There will be a lot of changes for us in 2010. We will be moving to a new city at the end of June. We are still not sure where we will end up. It is hard to believe that we have almost been out here for two years. It has really gone by fast, there are a lot of things I will miss about Minneapolis. One thing that I definitely won't miss... the WINTER!!

Sunny California

2009-10-27T17:43:00.004-05:00

Disneyland is the place where dreams come true! I love Disneyland, because it is overflowing with cheerful people and happiness. Ryan's family goes to Disneyland every year. I went once with him before we were married. This time all his nieces and nephews were able to come. Needless to say it was a little crazy, but we had so much fun. This year we avoided crowds by going the week after Utah's fall break. We average wait time for most rides was 10-15 minutes. That is really good for Disneyland, maybe it is the recession?? Ryan and I spent most our time with the older kids going on the "scary" rides. Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, etc. I even got a little scared on some of them. California Adventure park has several new fun rides. "Soarin Over California" is a virtual plane ride over the spectacular scenery of California. The only bad thing about this trip was that Ryan lost his wedding ring on Thunder Mountain. He put it is his pocket and after the ride it was gone. This is the second time he has lost his ring, but I think it is gone for good this time.

We also found time to visit the beach and swim in the ocean. My favorite part of the trip was the warm sunny weather!

Speed Blogging

2009-09-21T18:48:00.005-05:00

So much has happened since I last blogged. I feel overwhelmed and cannot possibly include all the details. Instead, I will give you the abridged version of the past month.

August 27-31: My mother and sister came to visit. Unfortunately the weather was not great, but we still had a great time. Of course we went to the Mall of America to shop until we dropped. We had a hot dog at the Twins baseball game. We even went to the Minnesota State Fair and did not catch the swine flu. The Minnesota state fair is well known for fried food on a stick- Corn dogs, cheese curds, spam, pickles, spaghetti, etc. You name it, and they can fry it and put it on a stick. I ate a fried Snickers bar on a stick. It was actually pretty tasty!

September 4-7: Labor Day weekend in Duluth, Minnesota. We had a fabulous mini-vacation. We stayed in a great hotel on Lake Superior. The weather couldn't have been better. We went running, rode bikes, golfing and hiking at Gooseberry falls. It was a busy sports weekend for Ryan. Ryan watched the U.S. Open and BYU football, while I laid out and read my book. We would definitely like to go back again soon, but not during the winter.

September 11-14: Flew home to Utah for my aunts funeral. It was not a good excuse for a trip home. My mom's youngest sister died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism. It was a very hard day, but it was nice to have the whole family together for support. She will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with her husband and children.

September 17-21: My wonderful mother-in-law came to visit. We had a very laid back weekend. We went to the Aveda institute for massages and facials. We went for several walks by the Mississippi River and Lake Calhoun. My favorite part was going to Mary Poppins at the Orpheum Theatre. It was spectacular! I hope she had as much fun as we did. Thanks for coming!

My Favorite Cuz!

2009-08-21T17:40:00.009-05:00

My favorite cousin BECCA came to see me a few weeks ago. We have been very best friends since we were babies. At times we have drifted apart, but we always have fun and laugh when we are together. She left her hubby and daughter at home and flew half way across the country for me. As expected, we had a blast! Our weekend started out running a half marathon together. Becca was in much better shape than me, I have not been running much this summer. The race starts in Minnesota and finishes in Wisconsin. The weather did not cooperate, it rained pretty much the whole time. Not to mention, it was cold and windy. (Welcome to Minnesota!) Despite an asthma attack and squishy shoes, we finished!! Ryan also ran and finished with a much faster time. After the torture was over, we all got full body massages. Luckily, the rest of the weekend was warm and sunny. We took her kayaking on Lake Calhoun and managed to catch some rayson the beach. We went to the Mall of America, Walker sculpture garden, and saw a couple movies. We stayed in a hotel so that we could stay up late and talk. I realized that we are getting too old for all nighters. Most nights we were asleep by midnight. We were able to cram a lot of fun into 4 days, but I was still sad to see her go.

Next weekend my mother and sister will be paying a visit. I have noticed that I only get visitors between the months of June and August. I can't say I blame them, I would not visit Minnesota in the winter either. Even the summer is unusually cool this year, our high yesterday was only 66 degrees. Yippee! The other thing I love about visitors, is that I get to take time off work. I can't wait!

Jordan Family Vacation

2009-08-06T14:23:00.021-05:00

We just returned from a fun-filled Jordan family vacation to Island Park, Idaho. It sounds like an exotic resort, but we actually stayed in a cabin in the wilderness. My dad rented a 15 passenger van for the week so we could all travel together. It was a little chaotic at times with 9 adults and 6 children in the same vehicle, but we had plenty of great family bonding and only a few meltdowns (mostly from Ryan). The cabin was big enough for the whole family. Ryan was glad that it had a hot tub, TV, and high speed Internet. This was my first trip to Yellowstone, and I saw plenty of buffalo, elk, and a bear. (We even had a moose wander into our back yard.) We saw Old Faithful erupt twice and several other geysers. We saw "Footloose" at the Playmill in West Yellowstone. We went to an IMAX movie and ate plenty of good food. We rented rafts and floated down the river. It was a lot of fun until I got soaked by Ryan, Tom, and Jarrett. (Thanks to Angela for bringing the squirt guns.) The water was FREEZING!! Overall, it was a really fun week. This is the first time that we have all been together for more than a day. A family vacation is never complete without family pictures! I hope we can make this a Jordan family tradition.

Two years and still going strong!

2009-07-10T18:05:00.007-05:00

Ryan and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary on July 6th. It has gone by so fast! I wanted to do something romantic and memorable, but neither of us were able to get the day off work. So instead, we celebrated over the fourth of July weekend. We stayed at the Crown Plaza hotel in St. Paul. There was a huge 4th of July festival within walking distance of our hotel. It was called the 'Taste of Minnesota." They had amusement park rides, music, and lots of food! We ate buffalo wings, corn dogs, mini donuts, funnel cakes, corn on the cob, and ice cream. (We are lucky we didn't have a heart attack!) Ryan was a poor sport about the fireworks. We had to wait 10-15 minutes before they started, and he was not being patient. Then he wanted to go back to the room before they were over. I was a little upset that I missed the grand finale.

On our anniversary, Ryan surprised me and came home with roses and a heart felt card. He usually stresses out about what to get for me. He is a wonderful husband, and that is all I need. I bought him a pair of roller blades for our anniversary. He has been wanting them for a while. We went to Lake Calhoun to test them out and he had a great time. The only problem was he wore ankle socks and ended up with some big blisters.

Two FUN weekends!

2009-06-14T20:31:00.011-05:00

#1 Memorial Day Weekend in Arizona.

Ryan and I flew to Arizona to spend some time with his family. It felt great to enjoy the hot, 90 degree weather. We spent most of the vacation lounging by the pool. Ryan's niece had a birthday party on Saturday with a huge blow-up water slide in her backyard. They grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch. They even had a snow cone machine. The party was a huge success, I think the adults had more fun than the kids.

Ryan's birthday was on Memorial Day this year. We spent most of the day at the airport. Our layover took us to Houston, which is not really on the way to Minneapolis. Ryan's favorite birthday present came on Thursday when the cable guy hooked up the HD/DVR receiver. I don't know how we ever lived without DVR.

#2 Weekend with the girls.

My friends came to visit me!! I have been looking forward to this weekend for months. I haven't really made a lot of friends out here and I really miss my girlfriends. Jalene and Treo flew in from Vegas on Thursday, and Deb came from Chicago on Friday. The weather was good on Friday so we took a walk by the Mississippi river. We had lunch at a cafe near the river and went on a boat tour. I was glad we were able to spend some time outside, because the rest of the weekend was cold and rainy. On Saturday, we spent the whole day at the Mall of America. Eleven and a half hours of shopping- we didn't leave until the stores kicked us out. We went in every baby store at least twice. Two of my friends have babies, and the other one is pregnant. We stayed at a hotel downtown. We watched movies and stayed up all night talking. (Ryan was a bachelor for the weekend.) On Sunday morning, we went to brunch at Hell's Kitchen, then it was time to take them to the airport. I was sad to see them go.

For All Eternity...

2009-05-18T16:40:00.010-05:00

Last weekend Ryan and I were sealed in the Salt Lake temple. The best part was that we were able to have all of our siblings with us. We flew home after work on Thursday. The majority of our trip home was spent apart. Ryan stayed with his family in Provo, and I stayed in Salt Lake at the Residence Inn with my family.

On Friday I went shopping with my all of my sisters. Most of my purchases were from the LDS distribution center, White Elegance, and the Shade store. I was anticipating some drastic changes to my wardrobe.

Saturday was a very big day. We arrived at the temple at 11:30 and didn't get done until 4:30. It was so neat to have all of our family in the temple together. After the sealing, we took a few pictures in front of the temple. (Ryan was not cooperative!) We had dinner afterwards at Rodizio Grill. Everyone was hungry and we ate plenty of meat.

Sunday was Mothers Day. My family and I went to the Spoken Word on temple square and took my sister to the airport. I finally went to Provo to see my husband. His sister just had a new baby boy and named him Ryan. We had a fabulous Sunday dinner and played with the nephews. Ryan surprised me with a gorgeous diamond necklace in the shape of a circle. ("He went to Jared!") I am spoiled!

On Monday, I did more shopping! Lets just say this was an expensive trip. I went to lunch at Cafe Rio with my friend Marie. I have been craving Cafe Rio and we don't have it in Minnesota. Then I had dinner with my favorite cousin, Becca. We don't get to see each other very often, so after dinner we got pedicures.

Unfortunately we had to go home on Tuesday. It was a short trip, but we were able to spend lots of time with family and friends. Ryan spent time with his nephews, played tennis with Greg, and enjoyed his Mother's cooking.

Now we are back to life as usual. This weekend we are going to Arizona for Memorial Day to spend time with Ryan's family and soak up some sun. It still doesn't feel like summer in Minneapolis.

Nothing new or exciting.

2009-04-15T16:32:00.030-05:00

When I first started blogging, I was committed to blog once a week. Now I have lowered my standards to once a month. Here are a few random happenings from the past month.

#1 EASTER WEEKEND.

It is strange to be away from family over the holidays. Ryan and I got a hotel room downtown for Easter, just a few blocks away from our apartment. We went to a flower exhibit at Macy's (my idea), and a Timberwolves game (Ryan's idea). It was fun to get away (even if it was only a few blocks away), it really felt like we were on a vacation.

#2 RYAN FOUND HIS WEDDING RING!

As many of you know, my husband rarely wears his wedding ring. He only wears it on special occasions and to church. When he does wear his ring, he has a habit of taking it off and playing with it. (i.e. spinning it on the table) Last October it suddenly disappeared. I searched high and low, but there was no trace of it. I had finally accepted the fact that it was really gone. For Christmas, I bought Ryan three replacement wedding rings.

A few weeks ago, we were getting ready for church and he found it! It was in the pocket of a pair of chuch pants that he rarely wears. I am sure that he will lose it again, but now at least we have three replacement rings. (The orginal wedding ring is on the right.)

#3 I GOT A NEW PHONE.

My pink motorola razor finally stopped working. I had that phone for almost three years. I didn't want a blackberry. I had one for a month and I was annoyed by the amount of e-mail and notifications that I was getting. My new phone is great! It has a touch screen and a great camera. (old phone on right, new phone on left)

#4 I MADE COOKIES!

I am definately not Betty Crocker, but I can follow a recipe. I made snicker doodles for Ryan and they turned out good. (even though I left out the cream of tarter) He said they were not as good as his Mom's, but they were a close second.

Then I took it to an even bigger scale. I made 85 oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for a primary activity. It was a 4 hour project, but they turned out delicious! We took them to the primary presidency and the bishop of our ward. Next I am going to try to make Apple Pie!

#5 RYANS WATCH COLLECTION.

Ryan has a shoe fetish. He has multiple pairs of similar looking athletic shoes. He can't get enough of them. But lately he has a new hobby, collecting watches. He bought two new watches this month. I wish he would collect something cheaper, like baseball cards.

Sun, Sun, and More SUN!!!

2009-03-11T18:02:00.017-05:00

During the winter in Minnesota, 99% of my day is spent indoors with artificial lighting. I was in desperate need of a warm vacation. After several months of no sun I finally got my fix. My generous in-laws took us on a wonderful 7 day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

We flew to Fort Lauderdale and spent the night in a hotel prior to boarding our ship. Our ship was incredible! My favorite amenity was the huge jumbo tron above the swimming pool. We watched movies while we layed out and soaked up the sun. The food was divine! The best part was that I didn't have to cook or do dishes. We had a formal dinner in the dining room together every night. It was so much fun to talk and tell stories. I learned a lot about Ryan as a child and a teenager, and I think his parents learned a few things too! The entertainment was good- they had a couple of funny comedians, but Ryan refused to go to the production shows or the magician. He dragged me up to the night club a few times where we would sit and watch sportscenter or basketball while listening to the loud music. On the last night, I did get him to bust out some of his moves on the dance floor. The weather was nice- there a couple of cloudy days but we got plenty of sun. Ryan and I and his mother went snorkeling in Grand Turk. It was a cool, windy day and the water was really rough. We were all cold after getting out of the water. I shivered all the way back to the boat, but it was still warmer than Minnesota! We also visited St. Thomas and St. Martin. Overall, we had a fabulous vacation. It was extremely relaxing and nice to get away.

We were welcomed home by a snow storm yesterday and freezing temperatures today. Will this winter ever end? At least I have a nice tan to remind me of the warm Caribbean sun!

I am LOVED!

2009-02-16T15:58:00.004-06:00

I have never been a huge fan of Valentines Day, but now that I am married it is nice to get flowers once in a while. This year Ryan surprised me with a dozen yellow roses. I am loved!

On Valentines day, we stayed downtown at the Hilton hotel. It is only a few blocks away from where we live, but it really felt like we were on a mini-vacation. Ryan agreed to take me to the movie, "He's just not that into you." I really liked it!! The hotel had a nice gym, pool, and sauna. We had reservations at a Italian restaurant for dinner, but Ryan was concerned about missing the slam dunk contest. So I reluctantly agreed to eat at the hotel restaurant. Ryan was thrilled because of the big screen TV located directly in front of our table. It was All-Star weekend and Ryan didn't have to miss any of the action. He is lucky to have such a wonderful wife!

My TOP TEN from the HOLIDAY SEASON.

2009-01-05T16:27:00.011-06:00

Ryan and I had a wonderful holiday break. We were both able to get time off work to go home and spend the holidays with our families. It was a much needed vacation. I have come up with a list of my top ten things I loved about this holiday season.

#10 Going to the MOVIES.
Ryan and I saw a total of six movies during the month of December: Yes Man, Seven Pounds, Benjamin Button, Bedtime Stories, Valkarie, and Marley and Me. (Ryan also saw Madagascar 2 with his nephews!) My favorite movie was Valkarie. Tom Cruise has still got it!!

#9 Going to a Christmas Party with Ryan's Friends from Work.

Ryan's friend Todd invited us to a Christmas party before we left town. There was lots of good company, Christmas cheer, and awesome FOOD!!

#8 Family night with my parents dressed up as JOSEPH and MARY.

My parents dressed up as Joseph and Mary to tell the story of Jesus' birth for Christmas. My dad was less than thrilled about the idea. The grand kids enjoyed it and I got a good laugh!

#7 Watching the Utah UTES win the SUGAR BOWL!

What a great game!! For all you non-sports fans out there. The Utah Utes played Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on January 2. The Utes were the underdogs. In the first quarter, the Utes scored three touchdowns! They ended up beating Alabama 31-17. Go UTES!!

#6 Getting a KISS at midnight on NEW YEARS EVE.

New Years Eve isn't as wild and crazy as it used to be when I was single. This year we stayed home and watched the ball drop in our pajamas. The best part about being married is that I know I will get a kiss a midnight every year!

#5 Going to lunch with my High School FRIENDS.

I love to get together with my girlfriends from High School. I wish I was better at keeping in touch during the year. But it seems like every time we get together we can pick up where we left off. We reminisce and talk about how much everyone has changed. I hope we can continue this tradition until we are old women.

#4 Great seats at an NFL playoff game, VIKINGS vs. EAGLES.

I bought Ryan playoff tickets on the second row!! It was a great game, even though the Vikings lost 26-14. I felt like we were in the middle of the action, and Ryan had a great view of the cheerleaders! The only bad part was walking home from the Metrodome in 10 degree weather. Brrrrr!

#3 Food, Food, and more FOOD!!

There is never a shortage of food during the holiday season and I definitely ate my share. At home we ate: Honey baked ham, cheesy potatoes, cinnamon rolls, Fondue, and my mother-in-law's famous chocolate peppermint dessert! We also went out to eat at Goodwood, El Mexicano, Pepperbellies, and Outback Steakhouse. To top it off, we had a Candy Bar tasting competition with my Cousin Becca. It is time to start working out again!!

#2 Opening presents!!

We definitely get spoiled by both families and Santa Claus. It is still fun to wake up on Christmas morning and see presents under the tree. Ryan favorite gift was a PLAYSTATION 3 with The Dark Knight on BluRay. My favorite gift was a large framed portrait of the Salt Lake Temple.

#1 Spending quality time with our FAMILIES.

My very favorite part of the holidays is spending time with our families. It was so fun to just relax and play with our nieces and nephews. Ryan went sledding with his family while I was in Richfield. Everyone was able to come home this year. It is not very often that our whole family can be together. We made some wonderful memories this year!

Cold Toes!

2008-12-21T19:29:00.011-06:00

I miss Utah winters!! I used to think that Utah was cold, but now I am experiencing a whole new kind of winter. Today the high temperature was -2 degrees. Luckily, I don't have to go outside very often. I prefer to stay indoors and drink hot chocolate. Last week, I had an experience that almost made me pack my bags and move to Arizona. I left work and walking outside to my car, when I got to my car it wouldn't start. This particular day was the coldest day in December since 1998. With the wind chill it was -30 degrees. Thank goodness for cell phones! I called my friend from work and he told me to stay by my car and he would send security to give me a jump. Fifteen minutes later....my toes and fingers were frozen. Security finally came and started my car, but I couldn't get warm. I had my heater on full blast and my butt warmers, but my toes were frozen. It was painful to push in the clutch with my foot. My toes felt like they were on fire. I have much more respect for the Pioneers and homeless people. The twenty minute ride home felt like an hour. By the time I finally arrived home, I was in tears!! Ryan was there to give me a big hug. He was surprised to see me crying and mumbling something about my toes and my dead battery. He helped me slowly warm up my toes and made me some hot chocolate. I thought that they might have to be amputated, but it looks like I can keep them. I do not know how the pioneers walked in the snow without heaters and butt warmers. Since that experience, I have learned a lot about winter preparation in Minnesota. I now wear boots and bring shoes to change into at work. I have better gloves, a new battery, flashlight, blankets, and hand warmers in my car. (Thanks Mom!)

THE WAVE

2008-12-07T15:49:00.009-06:00

I have really been debating on whether or not to join a gym. During the summer and fall, Ryan and I were training for the Chicago marathon and I was running at least 4-5 days per week. Now the weather is cold and everything is frozen. I haven't been running since the temperature dipped below 40 degrees. I am a whimp when it comes to cold weather!! I took the month of October off and claimed I was recovering from the marathon. In November, I started to feel lazy so I checked out a few gyms in the area. There is one that is really close, but it is small and expensive. There is also a huge Lifetime Fitness downtown, but it is further away and there is no parking. Ryan mostly works out at school during lunch so I'm on my own. I started looking for alternative means of exercise. I was bored watching TV on a Saturday morning (when I should have been working-out!). I was flipping through channels and stumbled upon an infomercial for The Wave. I am not usually a sucker for TV specials, but this one caught my eye. After 30 minutes of instructions and inspiring life changing stories, I was sold! Plus they threw in an extra bonus and free express shipping if I was one of the first 500 callers!!! After I made the phone call to purchase The Wave, I had a few second thoughts. But it was worth a shot because I didn't have to leave my house to exercise and it was cheaper than joining a gym. It came with two work-out videos and a ten minute abs work-out. It is awesome! It took a couple of times to get the hang of it, but I was definitely sore the next day. The instructors move really fast. There is a sculpting video and one that is more cardio. Since this purchase, I have also bought hand weights and a couple of other home work-out videos. I love it! I am glad that I didn't join a gym. The wave is a good work-out and it is kind of fun too! Ryan made fun of me at first but I think he secretly wants to use it. I am not a spokesperson for The Wave, but I would definitely recommend it to a friend! http://www.thefirmwave.com/

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

2008-12-01T18:45:00.011-06:00

It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. After Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is time to put up the Christmas decorations. Now we can start listening to Christmas music. (I disagree with those who have the Christmas spirit before thanksgiving.) We have a Christmas tree, stockings on the mantle, and a wreath on the door. It is not much, but it brings the excitement of Christmas to our little apartment. We are counting down the days until we will be home for Christmas.

Sunday night we went to the Vikings vs. Bears football game. It was WILD! I have never seen so many fans dressed in purple. These are not your average everyday fan, these fans live and breathe the Vikings!! They are serious about their football. They started tailgating at noon and were intoxicated by game time. But the Vikings won and nobody got shot.

Wedding in Utah

2008-11-23T20:55:00.003-06:00

November is flying by. It is hard to believe that December is just around the corner. The weather is starting to take a turn for the worst. Our temperatures have dipped into the 20's. I went to Utah last week for my best friends wedding. The weather was gorgeous! It was a wonderful break from the cold. I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time. Unfortunately Ryan was not able to come home with me. I spent most of my trip in Richfield with my parents. My good friend got married in Wayne County. It was a great day!! I was so happy to see all of my friends. The wedding was a huge success. My friend Marie came down to Richfield and stayed with me. After the wedding, the bride and groom spent their wedding night in Richfield. We snuck out in the middle of the night and decorated her car. I felt like I was in high school again. It was a much needed vacation. I was excited to come home to my husband. He had been eating fast food for a week and he was happy to have me home.

Ryan and I went to the Celtics vs. Timberwolves game this weekend. But the highlight of the weekend was the BYU vs UTAH game. We found a sports bar that was showing the game. Ryan of course, was very disappointed, but I have been gloating all weekend. GO UTES!!

Trick or Treat!!

2008-11-02T19:07:00.006-06:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! We didn't have any trick or treaters this year. I don't think there are many kids that live in our neighborhood. I miss being a kid on halloween. It was so fun to get dressed up and go to school. You could eat candy all day long, until you were sick to your stomach. After trick or treating I remember counting all my candy and comparing with my sisters. We would trade for the good treats and try to get rid of the "dots" and flavored "toostie rolls."

We got dressed up and went to a halloween party for my work. Ryan usually is the grinch when it comes to halloween. I had to drag him to the costume store. I wanted to have matching costumes. For example: pirates, devil and angel, bacon and eggs, adam and eve, etc. He looked around for a few minutes until he found the Burger King. The only costume in the whole store that didn't have a match! But he agreed to wear the costume and go to the party, so I couldn't argue. I found a queen costume, and got a crown at Burger King. It was the closest I could get to a match. Ryan's costume included white tights! Luckily, he has really nice legs. We had a good time at the party. But next year, I am picking out the costumes.

Leaves are Falling

2008-10-26T17:28:00.004-05:00

It is definitely FALL here in Minnesota. Summer is gone. The temperature is dropping and the leaves are falling. It is still warm enough to get outside and explore. Last week we went to Minnehaha Falls. The falls were not that impressive, but the leaves are so colorful. The sun was shining, but there was a chill in the air. I have already started stocking up on hot chocolate for the winter.

Ryan bought another pair of new shoes last night. He is out of control! His closet is already overflowing with shoes. I am going to have to start secretly throwing them out, one pair at a time.

CHICAGO MARATHON

2008-10-14T21:11:00.005-05:00

WE DID IT!!!

It is finally over. I wish I could say that I enjoyed running the Chicago Marathon, but I didn't. I am glad that I finished and it was a great accomplishment, but it wasn't FUN. If I had to sum up my marathon experience in one word, it would be: HOT! We flew into Chicago on Friday night after work. We stayed in a dumpy hotel close to the airport on Friday night. Then we upgraded to a nice Hotel downtown for the rest of our trip. Our hotel was only a few blocks from Grant park, where the marathon started and finished. We woke up early and walked to the starting line. By the time the gun went off it was already 70 degrees. Ryan and I did not start together. We both ran a fast first half. Then it got really HOT! The weather channel said it was supposed to be mostly cloudy, but there was not a cloud in the sky. I could feel myself start to slow down around mile 15. I hit the WALL! The spectators kept me motivated. Over one million spectators came to cheer us on. It was really impressive! I thought about quitting a couple of times, but I am glad I didn't. I was in pain the last few miles. It was all worth it the moment that I crossed the finish line. It is such an incredible feeling to have run 26.2 miles. I could barely walk at that point. I staggered around until I found Ryan. Of course, he was already finished. Then I made him pose for pictures. (Not his favorite thing!) We walked back to our hotel. It was only a few blocks, but our legs felt like jello and our feet were throbbing. Once we got back to our hotel room, Ryan took off his shoes. Three of the toes on his right foot had huge blood blisters, and the big toe on his left foot was covered with a huge blister. I think he is going to lose a couple of toenails. It looked really painful. It probably wasn't the best time to say, "I told you not to buy brand new shoes two weeks before the marathon." (Haha!) My feet were in pretty good condition compared to his. We took a long nap. ZZZZZzzzzz.

OUCH!

It was such a beautiful day that we didn't want to stay inside, but we couldn't walk. So, we took a taxi to Navy Pier and went on a boat tour with my friends Debra and George. It was perfect, because we got to see the city while sitting on a boat. It was a gorgeous weekend for sightseeing, but too HOT to run a marathon.

Chicago Sunset

Twins Fever!!

2008-09-28T22:41:00.004-05:00

Ryan has Twin's Fever!! This week we went to a Twins Baseball game. For those of you who don't watch Sportscenter every night, the Minnesota Twins are in first place of the AL central division. They lead the Chicago White Sox by only one half of a game. We went to the game on Wednesday night against the White Sox. It was very loud in the Metrodome! I ate a "dome dog" and Ryan had the bratwurst (at least I didn't have to make dinner). The fans in Minnesota are passionate about their baseball team. They beat the White Sox three games in a row. I really hope they make it to the playoffs so we can go to another game.

Running Update: With the marathon only two weeks away, Ryan thought it would be smart to buy a brand new pair of shoes. Yesterday he bought a new pair of shoes that are identical to the ones he already has. He claims that he wears out shoes faster than me because he weighs more. I think he is crazy! Nobody should buy brand new shoes two weeks before a marathon. He will have to learn the hard way. I will be there to say "I told you so" when his feet are covered in blisters. We ran ten miles yesterday, and now we get to start our taper.

We love VISITORS!!

2008-09-14T17:59:00.007-05:00

Last weekend Ryan's parents came to visit. It was so much fun to show them around and share our new city with them. They stayed in a Marriot hotel that is literally across the street from our apartment. We had a lot of fun while they were here. We went walking along the Mississippi River, visited the Museum of Minnesota History in St. Paul, and they took us out for dinner every night. We had a great time! They were able to do some extra sightseeing while we were at work on Monday and Tuesday. They couldn't leave without going to the Mall of America. It is Minneapolis' biggest tourist attraction. It was a wonderful break from our regular routine. We love having visitors. If anyone would like to come and see us, you would always be welcome.

Running update: Last week was we ran 15.5 mile race around the lakes. Yesterday we ran a 20 mile training race. Only a month left until the marathon!

Labor Day Get-A-Way!!

2008-09-07T12:41:00.005-05:00

Ryan and I took a little vacation for Labor Day weekend. After work on Friday we drove about two hours north to Gull Lake. It is in an area called Brainerd Lakes. There are hundreds of lakes in the area. (Minnesota is the state of 10,000 lakes!) We stayed at a resort on the lake. I wasn't really sure what to expect. Of course, neither of us had ever been north of Minneapolis before. We just picked the resort from pictures on the internet. The resort was huge!! It was probably built in the 1960's. The decor was definitely outdated. I have added a picture of the floor in the bathroom so you can get an idea. But our room was really nice. We had a great view of the lake from our balcony. They had cabins and hotel rooms. They had a huge indoor sportscourt with an indoor track and a gym. The best part was the weather. It was warm, sunny, and windy. (thanks to Hurricane Gustav) We laid out by the pool and by the lake. Ryan went golfing two days in a row. But mostly we just RELAXED!!! It was a well needed break.

Minnesota State Fair

2008-08-31T13:33:00.007-05:00

This week we went to the MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. It is one of the largest state fairs in the country, second only to Texas. It was pretty impressive!! My favorite part was people watching. I have never seen so many interesting people in my life. I don't know where they all came from. Over 100,000 people visit the fair every day. It is huge! We took the skyride from one end to the other. There is an amusement park with rides, car show, tractors, sheep, cows, pigs, and a live birthing center where you can watch animals being born. But the best part of the fair is the FOOD!!! They have everything that is greasy, fried, and on a stick. We wanted to try everything. We started with a Pronto-pup (it is like a corn dog, except it is made with wheat instead of corn). Then we tried the fried cheese curds. They were actually pretty good!! I could feel my arteries clogging up as I was eating. Then we ate 20 cookies each. They serve everything in bulk. You could buy cookies by the bucket, easily over 100s cookies per bucket. We had a carmel apple, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and corn on the cob dripping with butter. And a diet coke to wash it all down! Needless to say, neither of us felt hungry for the rest of the week. It was an experience I won't forget. I am already planning what I am going to eat next year!

MALL OF AMERICA!!!

2008-08-23T22:59:00.007-05:00

This weekend I took Ryan to the MALL OF AMERICA!!! It was a brand new experience for him. It can be a little overwhelming, if you don't know what to expect. I was definitely more excited than he was to go shopping. We have learned that it is not a good idea for us to go shopping together. Ryan doesn't really understand why I have to try on everything in the store......twice, before I can make a decision. So to avoid a meltdown, he went to a movie, while I went shopping. There is no possible way you could go in every store. There are over 500 stores, including two American Eagle stores! The first one I went to didn't have a shirt in my size, so I walked to the other store and bought it. My only regret it that we didn't get to go on the big rollercoaster. Maybe next time? (If there ever is a next time.)

This weekend was a busy one! We ran the Woodbury Half Marathon. It was a beautiful course. It was a cool morning, only 60 degrees when we started the race. Perfect running weather! We ran around three different lakes and through some neighborhoods. Most of the course was shaded. One of the residents that Ryan works with lives in Woodbury with his family. They were our fan club. They rode their bikes along the course and cheered us on when we ran by. After the race they invited us over to their house for waffles!! We both did well and of course Ryan beat me again. His time was 1:34 and mine was 1:45. Both of us ran faster than our times two weeks ago. We have two more races before the Marathon in October.

Gopher to Badger

2008-08-10T19:14:00.007-05:00

Time is flying by here in Minneapolis. It is hard to believe another week has gone by. I guess that's what happens when you are staying busy. Ryan and I ran a half marathon yesterday. We are trying to run a race every other week to prepare for the Chicago Marathon in October. Neither of us have run more than 10 miles in a long time. It was called the Gopher to Badger half marathon because it started in Minnesota and finished in Wisconsin. (For all of you non-sports fans: The University of Minnesota's mascot is the Gopher and University of Wisconsin's is the Badger.) It was a gorgeous day, except it got really warm toward the end!! The sun was out and the humidity was high. We both finished and did well. Of course Ryan beat me, as usual. After the race Ryan decided to take a dip in the freezing waters of the St. Croix River. I chickened out!

In other news, I finally got a calling in my new ward. I am teaching the 8-11 year of girls in primary, and also in charge of activity days. I am team-teaching with another sister. Today was our first day. We have a small class of 3-4 girls. I am excited! I have never been in the primary before. It makes me feel old. I can barely remember when I was in primary. They sing new songs that I have never heard before. What happened to the classics like: 'Book of Mormon Stories', and 'I am trying to be like Jesus." Now they have songs for every article of faith. I have a lot to learn about primary. If anyone has fabulous tips for activity days, I am open for suggestions.

Working FULL time

2008-08-03T18:06:00.010-05:00

I am trying to Blog every week. I want to have something exciting to write about, but our lives are pretty simple. We go to work, run, sleep, and eat. I am still getting used to working five days a week. It is tough!! I have a lot more respect for all of you that work five days a week. I am used to having at least one day off during the week to go grocery shopping, run errands, and clean up. So needless to day, the house work is falling a little behind. But it has definitely made us appreciate the weekends a lot more!

The most exciting thing this week was the falling gas prices. I filled up for $3.49 a gallon!! That is still higher than I would like, but I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled up to the gas pump.

Lumberjack Days

2008-07-27T20:35:00.011-05:00

This week has gone by fast. It feels really good to be working again. It was a little adjustment to go from not working at all, to working five days a week. But, I think I will really enjoy my new job. The people I work with are wonderful and I am learning a lot!

If any of you know me very well, then you know that I am NOT a morning person. I usually struggle to get out of bed in the morning. And I have been know to sleep through my alarm and over use the snooze button. However, this past week I have gotten up early everyday to run before I go to work. And I love it!!! The mornings are so nice. It is cool and calm. the best part is that when I get home from work I have the whole evening to do whatever I want. I am not sure how long this will last, but I think I am converting into a morning person.

On Saturday, Ryan and I got up extra early and drove to Stillwater, Minnesota to run a 10 mile race. Stillwater is about 40 minutes east of us, on the border of Wisconsin. They had lots of activies going on for Lumberjack Days. It was a beautiful run along the St. Croix river. We both did very well, but Ryan is always faster than me. Sometimes I wish I would have married someone that was not so athletic, so I could beat him. Ryan is fast! He finished in one hour and nine minutes, and I finished in one hour and nineteen minutes. We are a little sore today. We are training for the Chicago marathon in October. We have a few more races coming up in the next couple months to help us get ready for Chicago.

A day at the Beach

2008-07-19T14:43:00.008-05:00

This week I was enjoying my last few days of freedom before starting my job on Friday. I really wanted to go to the pool and catch some rays. I tried to find a public pool, but there are very few outdoor pools in Minneapolis. Obviously because the summer is only two months out of every year. So all the pools and water parks are indoors. However, Minnesota is the state of 10,000 lakes. So I drove fifteen minutes to Lake Calhoun to lay out on the beach. It was definitely not white sand and crystal blue water of the caribbean. It was more like small pebbles and murky freezing cold water. It was a very humid day in the 90's. I was sweating, but the water was still way too cold!! I should have brought a wet suit.

I started my job on Friday. It felt great to be back in a hospital and using my brain cells again. Most of the day was orientation and paperwork. I really think I will like my new job. It is going to be challenging. I will be working with sick, complex patients. But I am excited to learn and gain more experience.

Our Cozy Condo

2008-07-14T11:13:00.017-05:00

I have finally unpacked the last box and put away the last dish. However, I am still hanging pictures on the walls. During my time off I have tried my best to make our house feel like a home. I am amazed at how fast we are adjusting. It feels like we have lived here longer than three weeks. I am going to take you on a virtual tour of our cozy condo. It shouldn't take too long, because it is only 1000 square feet. But it is the perfect size for us.

Let's start outside...This is the front of the building we live in. We live in the warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis. We are only a few blocks away from skyscrapers. The other picture is the bridge where we like to run over the Mississippi River. This picture is taken about a half mile from where we live.

This is the kitchen. I love our kitchen! It has double the cabinet space of our last apartment. And all brand new appliances. I have been spending more time in the kitchen lately. Since moving here we do not eat out as often as we did in Salt Lake. So I have been cooking dinners and making Ryan lunches to take to school.

This is our master bedroom. Every morning at five A.M. the sun rises and shines right into our bedroom window. While my parents were in town we bought some thick drapes. Since then we have been able to sleep in past five o'clock.

Here is the master bathroom. The only problem is the lack of towel rods. There is one small towel rod next to the shower. (Definitely not big enough for two towels.) So, I hung some decorative towels on it and put our towels on hooks behind the door. Ryan does not approve. He is very confused about the decorative towels and why he cannot use them. He also is confused why his towel is far away from the shower when we have a towel rack next to the shower. Let's just say we are going to have to make some changes in order to keep both of us happy.

This is the office/den. I wanted to make it into a spare bedroom so we could have some visitors. But we have decided that it is too small for a bed and a desk. However, my parents slept on a blow-up bed in this room and said it was very comfortable. Also, we live directly across the street from a Marriott hotel. So if any of you would like to come and visit, I am sure we can find adequate accommodations for you.

Here is the spare bathroom. Ryan has claimed it as his bathroom. I think men and women need separate bathrooms. He complains about my blow dryer and all the cords. And I have definitely taken over the master bath with all my "stuff."

This is the room where we spend most of our time, the living room. As you might notice from the pictures, our couch is in front of the fireplace. We had a very difficult time arranging the furniture. We have tried moving the couch in every possible position, and this is really the best way. If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.

This is our balcony. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to have a barbecue, against fire code. We enjoy sitting outside to read or just enjoy the view. The other picture is our view from the balcony. We are facing the Mississippi River. If that building wasn't in the way then we would have a spectacular view of the river.

Well, that's it! It is small, but perfect for a newly married couple. Most of all we love the location. It is only 2 miles from the University of Minnesota. Ryan is able to come home if he has a break. My favorite part is the underground garage. When it is 100 below zero, I will definately be glad that I don't have to scrape ice off of my car.

Good News! I start my job on Friday. Yipee! I am starting to get very bored. And it will be nice to have some income as well. Ryan is busy, busy, busy! He has been studying all weekend. He has a big test in his anatomy class on Tuesday. I am sure he will ace it!!!

Star Spangled Minnesota

2008-07-06T16:48:00.007-05:00

Ryan stared school on July first. He is alreday very busy! He has an anatomy class from 6-9 at night, three days a week. He is gone most of the day. I am getting a little bored. I have been sleeping in, grocery shopping, and watching The View. I am glad that I will be working soon because I am going a little crazy. I do not want to be a stay at home wife! Needless to say, we were both ready for the long holiday weekend.

We survived our first holiday in Minnesota. I think it was a little bittersweet for both of us. We are excited to be in a new city, but we are used to spending the fourth of July with our families. I think it was harder for Ryan knowing that his brothers were in Provo and he was stuck in Minnesota. However, we made the best of it. The city had a celebration called Red, White, and BOOM. It was within walking distance of our apartment along the Mississippi River. They had music from several bands, fried food on a stick, and fireworks. Ryan had the biggest corndog I have ever seen! My favorite part was the people watching. There are some strange people in this city! I bet there was close to 40,000 people there. (double the entire population of Sevier county) We live in a huge city. We stayed to watch the fireworks and then walked home.

One year later....

2008-06-30T17:43:00.000-05:00

I really struggle at blogging! It has almost been a year since I got married, and a lot has changed.

1) I am unemployed
2) Ryan is back in school
3) I live in Minneapolis
4) I am no longer a newlywed
5) I like caesar salad
6) I am expecting a baby in December

Well....all of those are true, except the last one.

Ryan and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary on Sunday July 6. It has gone by so fast! Everyone always says that the first year is the hardest. But I think it has been pretty easy. Ryan can be a little high maintenance sometimes. I am slowly teaching him to put the dishes in the dishwasher and to get off the couch to get the remote. We are definitely making progress.

Ryan spent the last year teaching the Dental Hygiene students at Salt Lake Community College and working at Mountain Ridge Dental in Orem. We found out in January that he was accepted to the University of Minnesota to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry. He was thrilled! The program is very competitive. My only concern is that I will freeze to death in the winter. The move was easy. My new job paid for a moving company and packers. They came and had all of our stuff in boxes in under three hours. The next day they loaded everything in a truck and headed east. We left on Saturday and arrived in Minneapolis on Monday just in time to watch the movers unload all our stuff. All I had to do was unpack. We are living in an apartment in downtown Minneapolis. Definitely different than anywhere I have ever lived before. We are only one block away from the Mississippi River. It is really pretty here. I love the weather in the summer. Everyday is sunny and in the 80's. My parents drove out here to help us get settled. My dad is the best!! He changed light bulbs, fixed towel rods, and put together furniture. My mom cleaned the oven, did laundry and cooked dinner. It was fun to have them stay with us. We went to a Twins baseball game and the Mall of America. They left this morning and headed for Nauvoo. Ryan starts school tomorrow morning. I am not sure when I will start my new job. I have to wait for my credentialing paperwork to go through. I hope it takes a long time!! I am enjoying unemployment.

Virgin Blogger

2008-04-01T18:34:00.000-05:00

Guess what everyone! I got married. It has already been ten months. It seems like just yesterday. Well I am offically a blogger now. My cousin becca showed me how and here it is. It is much easier than I thought. I don't know how good I will be at keeping it updated. However, we recently found out that Ryan was accepted to a residency at the University of Minnesota. That means I am moving far away. So I think this is a good way to keep my family and friends updated. Stayed tuned for exciting news and updates.......