Moving

I've decided I've had enough of Rexburg.

I know 26 is not old, but I feel old in this town. I walk into restaurants and if the average age is 20 I have this immediate feeling like I should leave. Mostly because pure feelings of disgruntled anger usually follow after an 18-year-old girl yells out something idiotic to catch another 18-year-old boys attention, and will follow by literally jumping him in a tackle of flirtation. I think I am over that. I think I was over that at 21. I am like a grouchy old man who married a grouchy old man (who is also over crazy teenagers).

With all of this pent up anger we came to the decision to move. We found a place in the large city of Idaho Falls (pop. 56,813) where there are a whopping two Super Walmarts. Rexburg doesn't even qualify for that large of a mega store.

I am excited to move on from Rexburg and college life. I know Bryce has a lot more schooling and we will still be "in school" for at least 3 more years but the thought of not having to live where I went to school will be nice.

The downside of moving will be the difficulty of finding new friends. Rexburg has a plethora of young married couples to befriend. It will be hard to leave the friends we have made here. But like us, I know eventually those we have become friends with will move on too. So here's to new adventures!

Macaroons

I have this dream that I can make delicious French Macaroons. So far it has been 2-0...with me on the losing side. Any bakery I go to the first thing I do is check for macaroons. It is the one thing I CRAVE but can't find anywhere in town. I braved the attempt to try again after looking at my cousins facebook pictures. She said to follow Martha Stewart and I wouldn't go wrong. CURSE you Martha. I thought you were supposed to make the difficult things easy for the everyday run-of-the-mill woman. They tasted awful and wouldn't come off the pan. I think it is maybe a mixture of the almonds, oven, and paper...or maybe it is just the cook.

I swear, I can make anything but cookies. It is as if God knew I shouldn't be eating them. I even tell people I hate cookies. Mostly because I can't make them myself and don't want to feel jealous of how they can succeed at something so simple.

Ah curses. I'll stick to bread.

Planting Season

We finally got around to planting our seedlings today. This year we planted squash, onions, cabbage, and a tomato. Last year our tomatoes didn't do so hot so we thought we would try just one this year.

Gardening in an apartment can be difficult because obviously everything needs to be in a planter. Bryce and I were talking about how we can't wait to be home owners someday and have a giant garden in our backyard. For now our little planters will do! And I can't wait to see how everything grows.


I did a pot of annuals this year. We got a flyer in the mail for four free annuals and four vegetables. I figured we shouldn't pass that up and we bought a few more flowers to go with it. Lets hope I didn't plant everything too close together. I'm new at this and am learning from every years mistakes.

Savings

I have had this weird obsession with checking the KIDK news website lately and they have a section called Buy it for Half. I finally found something useful to buy. My in laws are coming at the beginning of June for our birthdays and had mentioned they were going to be staying at a hotel in town...low and behold...it was on the Buy it for Half section at a whooping 70% off! Hurray for good deals. $50 for $15!

Sometimes I see pictures and blogs of people who do extreme couponing and I get jealous! I totally wish I was capable of saving money like that. It takes a lot of work for them, and they can get some random crap they'll never eat practically for free. But I think it is admirable they can plan like that.

For now I'll glory in my savings and that sometimes Albertsons has buy-one-get-one-free meat.

http://kifitv.buyitforhalf.com/

26

Today I turned 26. Amazing feat, I know. It took little effort and a small amount of street smarts. Bryce told me how my Mom talked with him about how as a child I would plan my birthday for months.

When you are the fourth of five children and your parents weren't wealthy it was a big deal when you got something and no one else did. I have some good memories of planning my birthdays as a child. They usually involved elaborate plans and impractical presents. Which I almost never got, and didn't really care about anyways as long as I got a Barbie or some clothes I was happy.

One birthday that sticks out was my eighth birthday. It was barbie themed and I had all the little girls from church and school over. My Mom did a fantastic job of decorating and planning games. One was musical chairs. It is one of my very few vivid memories of a child, racing around the living room fighting for the last seat. I inherited the table and chairs that we played that game on...maybe someday I'll do the same with my kids.

Another birthday I remember was when I was in College. Bryce and I had been dating about two months and he and my roommates planned an awesome party. There was even a pinata. We made a fire pit and roasted kebabs.

Today was a quiet birthday, and it was just as nice as any I had before. I went to work, came home to a homemade dinner by Bryce and opened a few cards and presents. Just Bryce and I. I think it will be a memorable one. Because of all the dreams and plans I had as a child none involved being with the person I love more than anything in this world. And I am so lucky that he is the perfect gift from heaven for me.

Jackson!

I know...It's about time I updated our blog. I really do come on here like everyday...and everyday I have nothing exciting going on or something I should complain about publicly so nothing is ever updated. But, I made it a goal to write about my amazing birthday weekend.

Life has been a little stressful for me and it's been a month of me coming home and complaining about my inadequacy and far to many silly tears. Bryce and I made a list of things that make me happy and one of them is car trips. Since my birthday is coming up we thought it would be a great time to get out of town and relax...so we went to Yellowstone and Jackson, WY. We headed out midmorning and drove north through Montana and West Yellowstone. The park only recently opened up from the winter. We were astonished how much snow was still there.

Obligatory car photo! See ya Rexburg!

The first animal we spotted! A Buffalo on the side of the road!

Elk!

Bryce took this shot through the trees...my little photographer!

The stinky sulfur pools

A gushing geyser.

Us in front of a fore mentioned Gushing Geyser...

The snow on the side of the road.

About half our trip through the park looked like this. I guess they had a lot of snow this winter and just opened some parts of the road last week. Good thing it was clear for our drive to Jackson because we really didn't check the road status.

Jackson Lake and the Tetons. They were amazingly beautiful.

I feel so blessed that we got the chance to get out of town for the weekend. My husband made everything special. I am lucky to have him.

We stayed over in Jackson on Saturday and walked around the town. It was fun to just get away from everything. It was an amazing birthday weekend...now I have to think of a way to top that for Bryce next month.

One Year

Tomorrow marks one year of marriage for Bryce and I. I never realized how much life changes when you say "I do". I can't imagine my life without my sweet husband by my side. We have had an awesome year together.
It took a while for us to both be comfortable with ourselves and the changes that living together brings. We've had our little trials and have met them with prayer and faith. I am one lucky girl to have such a mellow husband who deals with a girl who is way over-dramatic.

Here's to fifty more anniversary's!
...and 50 kitties.