my life is really exciting.

The semester is officially over!  I'm feeling euphoric!  After turning in an essay last week, Ben and I celebrated the end of my semester with a treat and an episode of House.  Adios, literature class and public speaking class, and hola to social media and PR, photojournalism, and Spanish.

This degree will be the death of me.  ;)

capable.

Between my persuasive writing and public speaking class that I was not rushing to sign up for by any means and my literature class--both required--I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and trying to navigate uncharted waters.  Pray for me. ;)

(ps - I'm back in school.  Wash U is so, so different from BYU.)


image source unknown

simplicity at its finest.

Seeing as 3 people asked me this week what Ben and I have been up to for the past little while, I'm starting to think that I'm a bad blog updater.  ;)  So for you 3... voilà.

Ben spends his days studying for finals, serving as the 2nd counselor in the YM's presidency, reading books on building furniture and construction, watching BYU and the Broncos play football, dreaming of Christmas plans to go snowboarding, taking his wife out for date nights, and wishing that he could get out of his last final.

I spend my days working 9-5, writing a final paper for my online class, serving as ward librarian, trying new recipes, reading books on body language (I'm on this super weird kick but it's all terribly fascinating), shopping for & wrapping Christmas presents, dreaming of snow, going to the gym, and anxiously awaiting Christmas break.

We're happy, healthy, and hoping that the week will fly by!

the first few days.

Well, we finally made it!  Over 23 hours of driving, one U-haul rental, and two cars later, we finally made it to St. Louis!  That, in and of itself, is an accomplishment.

Our apartment is small and cozy, and we were lucky enough to get brand new carpet.  Sorry for the terrible quality pictures, I left my camera in Utah and only have my phone camera right now.

After walking on the kitchen floor for 10 minutes, we realized that the bottoms of our feet were black.  So we put on grubby clothes and scrubbed that kitchen floor for 2 hours.  Check out the grout...

The manager for the apartments we lived at in Provo was a cleaning Nazi when it came to grout.  I never really understood why until now.  I guess you could say it's times like these that make us grateful for uptight ladies like Kathy.

The next day we decided to go explore a little bit.

We also took a tour of B's new school, Washington University.  Just have to say... they ain't got nothing on the BYU Grounds crew, but they've got everything on BYU's buildings.  The buildings are seriously so pretty!  No wonder tuition is $20,000/semester!  ;)  Kidding.

I guess eventually we'll have to unpack everything and put the sightseeing on hold for a day.

But being in a big city is too exciting for that.


P.S.  And for the record, I drove in a crazy rainstorm all by myself over 5 miles on a road system that resembles a bowl of spaghetti.  10 points for Lex today.

caps, gowns, and the like.

Today, B graduated from BYU and we couldn't be more ecstatic in this house tonight!

We started off the day with a lunch for all of the honors students, watched B receive his medal and published thesis, enjoyed the Commencement ceremony, ate papusas at a fantastic hole-in-the-wall restaurant of a place in Provo, opened presents in the park (someone's just a little excited about his new iPad and Apple tv), and finished off the day with some BYU Creamery ice cream.

We're tired.  And most definitely up for round two tomorrow!

cooking class.

I'm taking a cooking class this term here at school, and we make really fabulous meals.  Things like Fettuccine Alfredo and Basil & Tomato Bruschetta.  Or Zucchini Soup with Cornmeal Muffins.

I'm in heaven.

dear baby,

My professor for my Parenting & Child Guidance class asked us all in class today to take ten minutes and write a letter to our future firstborn.  If you think it's super easy to write a letter to someone who doesn't yet exist, you're wrong.

#1.  I could not for the life of me think of how to start this letter. 

Dear future baby,
Dear _______,
Oh hey there!
Hi.  I'm your mom.
'Sup.

I figured it'd be safer just to skip that part for now.

#2.  What was I supposed to talk about?

This is me writing you a letter...
I think your father is attractive.
Could you maybe wait for Dad and I to pay off the car before you come?
Babies are cute.  I hope you're cute and grow hair before you're three.
I shouldn't have worn a dress today because this classroom is freezing!

How in the world was I going to fill ten whole minutes?

#3.  The closing.

You're the best,
Hope you're doing great and having a good time,
Sincerely,
Keep your siblings in line up there,

I figured ending with just a "Love," was perfectly fine.


Okay, so all kidding aside, it wasn't a terribly easy assignment at the beginning but things slowly began to pick up.  After I figured out a greeting and what general direction I wanted to take, I literally felt like I could have filled over an hour of things I want that future child to know.  Words of advice, or telling that baby about me and who I am, or sharing the things I love with him/her.  Telling him/her about the wonderful people he/she will be associated with, and what great examples they are.  Or telling him/her about how I won't be the perfect mom, but I'll try to do my very best.

And I might have teared up a little while pouring my heart into that letter today,
because that future baby will be loved and so very, very wanted.

- - - - - - - - - -

On another note, here's a cute video for you.

i haven't washed my hair in 3 days.

Lately I've been slacking in the housewife department.  You know, like not making dinners or doing laundry or even making the bed in the morning.  So for dinner last night, between studying up on mortgages and loans and other really fun {sarcasm} details like interest and inflation, we pulled a Costco pizza out of the freezer and made do.  As if it really helps, we had some salad from a bag too.  *crickets chirping*  I know, fail.

This is just part of what makes finals weeks so... torturous fun.

I guess the best part of studying/finals week would be taking breaks.  Going for a walk around the neighborhood with B and having the kids we teach on Sundays yell hello from down the street.  Or eating watermelon together at midnight while watching an episode of This Old House (It's actually pretty neat--don't judge ;) before finally heading to bed at 2 am.

But to be honest, I'm grateful for all of it. 

A little pressure never killed anyone.
(Except maybe that spider I found on the bathroom floor this morning...)