Our "Cheesy" Halloween

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

   I know, I know.. our costumes are super cheesy. Especially for this part of Illinois. I am not much of a NFL football fan-in fact, I wouldn't even consider myself in the category of a fan. Illinoisans root for the Bears football team. Little did I know that the cheesehead is a symbol of the Green Bay Packers which are from Wisconsin-the state right above us. I also didn't know or realize that the Bears and Packers are pretty big rivals. So when we wore our costumes to our Ward party, we got a few boos and at first I had no idea why. Pretty much everyone in our ward are big time Bears fans. It'd be like a BYU cougar walking into a University of Utah pep rally. Woops!
   So even with that small "oopsie" our Halloween was a blast! We threw a little Halloween party at our place and invited a few friends. We played some games, had a costume contest, ate delicious grub, and tried not to let the boys talk about school (Did it happen? No..) It was still a grand ol' time and we are very grateful to the wonderful friends we have out here!

Lovely

    I would feel really ungrateful if I didn't share our experience last month so here it goes. Brian and I talk a lot about our finances these days as I try to comprehend the inevitable debt that Medical School will bring. So far we have been extremely blessed--with me being able to graduate school so early has allowed me to work a full-time job out here which gives us just enough to live on (due to ridiculous rent prices).
   Well last month Brian and I figured out the tithing we owed and Brian wrote the check out. It was only a few hours later when Brian received an email that said that he was being awarded a scholarship! I know that it was NOT a coincidence that we had just paid our tithing that morning. The Lord was blessing us for being faithful and obeying his commandments. I can't even begin to describe the gratitude that I feel. I am so much happier living on 90% of my income AND receiving the Lord's blessings. The church is true and I am so happy to be apart of it!

   Here's a quick update.. We are very busy out here. I usually work 50 hours a week and Brian lives at the school. (Not really but kinda). Each week we have our No-Study-Sunday where we get to catch up and spend time together playing games, talking walks and playing Frisbee outside (weather permitting) and getting together with friends. I look forward to Sundays more than any other day of the week because I get to have Brian all to myself and not at the school.
        Here are Brian and some of the boys from the ward on their way to Priesthood. And below is me and my friend Brooke on a hayride. (She's pregnant and just found out she's having a girl.. WOOT!)        Here are two cute pictures of Hayden. She smiles all the time but trying to catch one on camera is super hard to do! In the bottom picture Hayden was smiling and then turned and planted a kiss right on my cheek just as I snapped the picture. Isn't it the cutest ever? I love this girl's kisses and her sweet phrases I get to hear every day, "I love you" "Bagel" "Hi" "Mama" and "Happy" (Happy was her first word.. isn't that so sweet?).
     How could I ever be unhappy with my life when I have a girl like this to see every day?!

Skeleton in the Closet

   Halloween is only a few weeks away. One day, Brian came home with an awfully large and old looking brief case. He told me that it was something for school to help him learn the human body better. Little did I know that it was an ACTUAL human body in the case!!
   Yes.. You read that right. Inside that old looking brief case lies the bones of what was once... a real life person. And now this person-or these bones-are now lying in a closet in the upstairs spare bedroom! Talk about skeletons in your closet! We really do!

Apparently this is part of your spine. To me, it looks like the face of a pig.

This is actually kind of cool.. See the areas that look like stitches at the top of the skull? This is to help us slide through the birth canal when we are born. Heavenly Father is a smart man and designed our bodies perfectly!

 Meet Edgar, at least that's what I've decided to call him since he is staying at our home.

Kayak the Shores of Chicago

We made it into the city! Most people go by car, some by the metra... WE GO BY KAYAK!

    We went with our friends Dave and Hannah Knecht and boy oh boy did we have oodles of fun! Being in Chicago is like walking through a movie. I mean there have been some great movies filmed here..  Home Alone, Source Code, August Rush, Bourne Legacy, the Fugitive, Return to Me (My Fav!) and let's not forget the famous Ferris Bueller's Day Off! You can't blame me for feeling that way right?       Also while we were there, it was free Museum Day.. so we went to the Alder Planetarium. Quite the informational place and there are a lot to see.       This picture shows just how interested Brian was in the place. There was too much to look at and so he couldn't even stop for a second for a picture haha      We tried a moon launcher. Hannah and Dave seemed to really enjoy it! But kayaking on Lake Michigan.. now that was wonderful. We could not have chosen a more perfect day to go either. It was a great way to view the city. And it was peaceful... on the water it was smooth and quiet whereas looking into the city was a hussle and bussle of cars and people. I enjoyed just watching it all happen.

K

Since the scenery isn't complete without a picture of my feet...

   I want to go again already! We are already planning a time to kayak up the Chicago river this time and be right in the middle of it all-but still away from all the craziness. It's a whole new and wonderful perspective!

My Sweet 21!

     I am officially OFFICIAL! The big 21! And as everyone is telling me-there are no more birthdays to look forward to after this! I disagree though. Birthdays are good for you! Those who have the most, live the longest! : ) I am now legal to drink, gamble, purchase firearms, rent a car, take a cruise alone (Not that I would ever go alone!) and I can adopt a child! So I guess I became an adult at 18, but now I'm a "true" adult?
    To celebrate Brian and I started on Saturday. Brian found a free bike and has spent the past couple of weeks fixing it up for me. I've been wanting a bike so bad since we got here because there are so many trails to ride on so I was super excited. He finished the bike just in time for my birthday so we took a nice ride to the beach to swim! Saturday's weather could not have been more perfect. It was bright (As shown by Brian's squinty eyes) and warm.

    I really REALLY love the beach here. It amazes me how much it feels like an ocean minus the salty air taste and smell. I could live here just for the beach and the fact that there are 4 seasons! We explored the shores a little which turned in our benefit because we found a great football that had been soaking in the water for probably a few days. (We took it home and it is currently drying. I think we'll get some good use out of it!)       We also found this huge pipe! I wanted to climb all the way up it.. But Brian being the cute protective man that he is, used his better judgement and only let me climb a good football's length before calling to me to turn around and come back out. I felt like I was in the movie The Fugitive when he's trying to escape through the water tunnels. (Didn't that movie take place in Chicago?!)      Then it was time for presents! There was a really good deal on movies going on.. so with some birthday money I got a volleyball, basketball, and the movies! I've got our future dates together all planned out now! Sunday we had some friends come over for ice cream and brownies and my friend Hannah Knecht brought the cute cupcakes pictured below (They had caramel frosting... and anyone who knows me knows caramel is my weakness!)

    But anyway, back to Saturday night.. We went out to eat sushi at a place called Hayashi. It was divine. I love sushi (I inherited my dad's great taste buds) Yes I took pictures of the food      Sunday Morning Brian woke me up with breakfast in bed. Mmmmm Delicious! He made me Eggs Benedict and did a fabulous job. We went to church where the relief society sang happy birthday to me. They were shocked to hear that I was only 21. Everyone always thinks I look older (I hope that doesn't mean that when I turn 30, I'll look 40!) A couple of the women joked "I've been 21 three times already!". 

    We went home where I took a much needed nap and then we made delicious desserts for the friends that we had come over. It was such a great birthday. Brian spoils me rotten and I am so grateful to be married to that cute boy. I had to work later which wasn't so lovely, but all good things must come to an end sometime! Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! They were needed this year more than ever! I am extremely blessed with wonderful family and friends in my life! :)

Fine, Fabulous, Fantastic, Fancy and 50!!

To the lady with the contagious laugh.

The lady who is constantly making sacrifices so others can have more.

The lady that always lends a listening ear and caring heart.

The lady that makes my life happier and better.

 To my mom!

   My mom's birthday is September 14 and mine is two days later on the 16. All my life my mom has told me that I was her birthday present and I have grown up believing that I was the luckiest girl in the world. How many other kids could say that they gave their mom a birthday present by just being born?
    Over the years I have really come to appreciate sharing this time with my mom. It always made me feel extra special. I look up to this woman so much and having our birthdays close together has always been my reminder to be more like her. She is so generous and sincere. I love her sense of humor and how friendly she is. I love just talking with her. We can talk for hours about random things or very important things. She's my best friend and example. I love her so much!

Mom had just turned 29 when I was born. (I know, I was quite the little chunk)

 

    Friday was a very important day for Mom too.. Not only was it her birthday, but she just turned the big 50! And I can't believe I'm not there to celebrate!

For all of your thoughtfulness, all of your love,
Your patience and gentleness, too,
I'm thankful--for I have a wonderful treasure--
A sweet, lovely mother like you!

 

I Love You Mom!

Letter to Me

   I thought this was cute. This is a letter that Brian wrote when he was in Fifth grade about what he thinks he will be doing in ten years. Brian and I only just opened this letter, though the envelope said "Do not open until June 2009."
      He is so random! (Especially the part about the homework-What was that little brain thinking?) I love catching a glimpse of Brian the younger! His cute little spelling- collage? What in the world are T.F.T.D phases?! Here he is at the age that the above was written. He was cute even then!! :)