How...Squirrely

Okay I tried to get out of posting a big picture of me and my squirrels but here it is
(for you Delia!)

Once I got them on they weren't that bad. but still...squirrels?

A Very Merry Christmas

As expected we were horrible about taking pictures. Our camera was dead a day after we got to Moab so not many pictures were taken - here's what I did get.

Over the Holiday we:
• Got excited about Santa
• Used Grandma's front room as a race car track (because it's under construction)
• Made and frosted sugar cookies
• Hula hooped, flew, golfed, bowled, won a million dollars, and ski jumped on the wii
• Danced to Christmas songs
• Cuddled babies
• Ate treats and homemade carmels
• Wore Christmas jammies
• Played with lightening mcqueen, buzz, and of course woody
• Opened presents
• Got disappointed about after Christmas sales
• Talked to Hermana Taylor
• Wore closed toed shoes

Hope your holiday was just as grand!!

Christmas Time

This year for Christmas, we'd planned on staying home in Arizona but after a couple tears about the fact that we're so new we don't have friends or family close, we decided to look at the possibility of going to Moab to my brothers house.

We toyed with the idea until I got this video:



Is it possible to say no to that? Her mom knows me too well and knows that's a big fat no. So...

I can't wait! We're leaving tonight (we hope) - we're not too excited to be back in the snow BUT we are excited to spend Christmas with family.

I'll try to be good about blogging while we're gone but being surrounded by my eight nieces and nephews might make it hard! Lets be honest - I'll take pictures - okay lets be really honest...I'll TRY to take lots of pictures and blog all about it when I get back.

You know what would really make it feel like Christmas? homemade carmels...mom?

What are you plans for Christmas?

Christmas Jammies

Last night I started to panic - you see this year I feel a little jipped over the Christmas Season. We haven't had hot chocolate (because we're barely wearing jackets), we haven't had treats (because we're trying to lose weight and have no one to share with), we haven't been to any Christmas parties (because we're new in town), and driving around looking at Christmas lights isn't the same when there isn't snow. So - I haven't really prepared for Christmas.

But Christmas is next week. As in one week. ONE.

So last night after working 9 hours at the computer and going insane- I made Fred go with me to Target to look for Christmas jammies. He wandered off so I went out to search for the cutest Christmas jammies. I found mine and headed to the picked over mens dept.

He finally finds me and looks at the jammies I chose for myself and tells me they aren't Christmas enough. So we head back to find something more...Christmassy.

Here is where I make a mistake - I then told him that he should pick out mine and I should pick out his. Why would I say that??

Well- 20 minutes later we were checking out with me saying, "you don't really like these. We should look at old navy first THEN decide" and him saying "nope. These are the ones".

I can't post a picture of them until Christmas morn but here's a hint - there are squirrels.

Do you get Christmas jammies?

Do You Ever...

feel like something is missing in your life?


It could be the absence of friends, bunco, relief society, or just the outside world - but lately I feel like something is missing. I'm not 100% happy with who I am and what I'm doing with my life. I NEED something.


But what?


say a baby and I'll drop kick you.

An Afternoon of Golf...

Today Fred went golfing at the course behind our complex. While on the second hole, he noticed some guy up wandering around the fourth tee box. Soon after he was passed by the head pro and a cart dude - who drove toward the guy.

Fred completed the second hole and headed toward the next tee box. As he approached the pro and cart dude who were now talking to the man he noticed that the guy was clearly on something. He kept running at the pro but then laughing right as he got into the pro's face. As Fred passed the guy started toward him. Fred slowed down thinking 'sure - let's go' however the pro quickly waved him on.

As Fred got to the next tee box, he sat and watched as a cop got there. When the cop approached, the guy sat on a bench with his hands behind his back. When the cop got behind him and reached for his handcuffs, the guy stood up and started throwing punches. This is when Fred got involved.

Fred ran over and started helping try to gain control of this guy. The cop tazed him - nothing happened. It came down to the cop and Fred having to throw punches and basically beat the guy up to get him to the ground for the cop to gain control. Because the pro and cart dude weren't as big - Fred ended up being the one to help the cop the most.

Fred was the only one that could hold him down when the cop finally was able to get cuffs on him. After they finally got the guy up and taken into custody, the cop came back over and thanked Fred for his help because he wouldn't have been able to gain control without it.

We went back over after I got done with work and here's a picture of the after math

(it is a little gross - beware - and yes...that's blood - from punches not head slams)

I'm so glad that Fred was able to help so that no one else got hurt!

letters

Dear Christmas Decorations-

I think you'll make it out of your boxes this year.

No promises though.

Dear Santa-

thanks for stopping by early with the wii.

We love it and you.

don't tell my mom that we already opened it.

Dear Wii Fit-

Thank you for confirming the fact that I have gained a bajillion pounds.

I appreciate it. I also hate your failure music - because I hear it too often.

Isn't balance something you're born with? well - I don't have it. leave me alone.

Dear Grooveshark-
Your Christmas music was just what I needed today
while I worked away on my camping chair at the home office.

Dear foot-

this whole 'hey-I'm-going-to-make-your-life-hell' thing is getting old.

please heal yourself because I'm pretty sure you're ruining my life.

Dear 25 Main-

I need one of your cupcakes. Stat.

Dear unpacked boxes-

please unpack yourselves,

decorate my walls, and

clean up your mess. kthx.

Dear Fred-

I love you. But I'd love you even more if

you'd stop hogging the wii and

share the freaking BBQ kettle chips.

Love- Chana

Home is Where Your Crap is

We made it!! We are settling in Arizona after a month in Arkansas. Things are a little crazy so I'll do a quick sum up of our adventures thus far and then you'll just have to wait until we get the Internet.

We got in late Tuesday night. Our friends Ashley and Tyler were nice enough to keep one of our cars while we were gone, come pick us up from the airport, and let us stay the night at their house. We woke up and headed out to find "the place" on Wednesday.

We found it. It was the only one we went to and we loved it. After begging and pleading telling them we were homeless and reeeeally needed a place to stay they got us approved and in that day. so we headed to the storage unit - grabbed what we could and headed home.

This was our favorite feature to the new place...

its HUGE!!

Yesterday was spent unloading out storage unit and taking loads back to our apartment. Now its a matter of getting everything set up, unpacked, and cleaned.

Hopefully we'll be done by Monday and have the Internet by Monday because I have A LOT of work to catch up on!!

Oh and we looove it here. it's perfect weather. Yeah yeah I say that now but July I'll think differently...we'll see.

Just in case...

You needed gift ideas here's what I'm thinking (edition #1)

This artwork for my bedroom by the amazing Casey O'Connell
hint: there are discount codes online!! woot!

This perfume

A new handbag from handbagheaven.com I love this one and this one

Really?

So I love shirts like these:

I have a couple that I think look cute. However, everytime I wear them I get this response from my husband, "Arrr that's an UGLY shirt" or "Did the pirate store have a sale?" or the classic "where's your parrot and hook?"

His enthusiasm was fueled when I got back from Chicago a while back and we went to my parents house. My brother said, "what did you go to the pirate store in Chicago?"

These comments made me laugh on the outside but frown on the inside. but I'm still wearing the shirts. I only packed one of my "pirate shirts" for our month here though - only because Fred said he'd throw the other one away...and he didn't know about the one I brought. Until I wore it and was looking fab and he came in and said, 'Arr matey you're wearing an ugly shirt'.

So then later I tell him that really he should just be telling me I'm beautiful - like all the time. Even when I haven't showered for days, have boogers in my nose, and I look like death. He laughs and says, "yeah...but your boobs are already sooo big that when you wear a shirt with 'fluff' on the front it only makes them BIGGER" (making a giant boob motion with his hand).

Mmmhmm. So the truth comes out.

Thankful

I would feel bad if I didn't do a thankful post...so here ya go. Here is just a taste of what I'm thankful for:

1. my 'manly man' husband. I kind of like this guy - he's an avid golfer but can install, build, fix, or inspect just about anything.
2. having to only wear one contact. This saves me approx. $100 a year, seconds a day, and yet I can still see.
3. online television. Since we disconnected our cable - this has been our way to still keep up with the shows we're addicted to...but for FREE!
4. craigslist. while it isn't as good as KSL - the ads are helping me find our new home (which we will be moving into next week...after we find it...anyone want to come help?)
5. friends. all of them. even the ones I haven't talked to in years yet still consider to be some of my besties. Miss you...lets catch up. on facebook.
6. white cheese dip at Fiesta Mexicana. I only have a few more days to enjoy your amazingness. let's not waste it.
7. blogging. It gives me an outlet.
8. online shopping. because buying stuff and shipping it to work to then sneak in my closet at home is what its all about.
9. games. we've played a lot of games recently. in one game my trash-talking 12-year old nephew said, "shouldn't you know how to play that game? you're from Utah. Don't they have family game night there?" to which I said, "no that would be called family home evening and it's a church-wide thing. Not just Utah."
10. Jello salads. Fred's WHOLE family was hestitant to try my jello salad. "isn't it a dessert?" no. it's a salad. scoop it. eat it. love it. By the end there wasn't any left. AND there were even comments like, "wow this is really really good" (one of those really's might not have happened)

Hope you all had a super fantastic Turkey Day! I know I did!

I promised I wouldn't...

But I did. I saw New Moon during it's first 24 hours of being released. I promised myself last year that I would never see the Twilight movies in the theater unless it was the dollar theater. Well. I failed myself. And i might have even suggested that our group where vampire fangs (which unfortunately we couldn't find).

Here are my thoughts:

• Jacob made the movie. Correction. Jacob after the transformation made the movie. Oooh I just got chills. again. When we finally move in somewhere - this picture will be found on our fridge, mirrors, closets, and in Fred's car. Ya know - just in case inspiration is needed.
• I think Edward is Gayward. He doesn't make eye contact, he has PMS, he's gross with his shirt off, and did I mention he talks to Bella like he's blind (making eye contact with her chin or earlobe instead of her eyes)
• Diehard fans are funny to listen to and to watch. Especially the 50 somethings in their tight Edward shirts. One lady we referred to as "the Madonna Lady" talked to the entire audience as though we were watching it at her house. Awkward.
  
• Good work to the Director who had Edward's entrance in the movie begin as a slow-mo, wind blowing walk toward Bella. It got tons of screens and gasps and peeing of pants.
  
• Jasper is one ugly, ugly dude with that wig and his pained expression. I now feel bad for the time I told one of our friends that he looked like Jasper. Sorry. I didn't mean it as an insult but well...it was.
• I spent a lot of the movie with my face in a 'seriouslythisisgoodbutborderlinegayareyoukiddingme?' but at the same time was thinking, 'thatJacobishotdoesthismakemeacougarorapedofile?'
  
• Americans are really fat. We sat in line in front of a ginormous family. It was sad to see the 10 year old that weighed over 150lbs scarfing a hot dog, popcorn, and soda. You'd think it'd be enough to scare off the ice cream I ate every. single. day. this weekend. It wasn't.


• Love Love Loved the ending. I think I was one that yelped or screamed when it just ended.


• all in all I really liked it. I might actually have to see it again in the near future.

What'd you think?

Every day...

I check craigslist for new housing listings. Every day I panic just a little bit that we don't know where we're going to live, that we have to move in by a certain date, that I can't take more time off, and that life is more expensive there. Every day I hope to see a listing for the most amazing apartment/condo for a crazy good deal. Every day I log off disappointed.

Every day Fred tells me not to panic. That there isn't anything we can do from here so we'll figure it out when we get there. Every day he's right (about this...). Every day he can take me from break-out-stress-city to calm-and-carry-on status.

Just another reason I love him.

Sports Fanatic

Lets get something straight. I don't HATE sports, as I heard my husband tell one of our friends the other day. I don't. I just don't have the attention span to watch them especially on TV. No thanks - I'd rather be slapped by a spoon.

As for live games, I like live athletic events - at least for awhile. I have a major case of Athletic A.D.D. I care more about watching the crowd then the game. I start playing games such as: 'real or fake', 'husband or brother', 'wife or mistress', 'ooh look at _____', or the classic 'don't look now but...'

So really you could say I'm a huge fan of sports. As long as I can see a crowd and you don't mind me saying 'oooh ooh look at that!!' every few minutes.

Am I alone? Who else plays these games?

Someday...

Fred will make an amazing dad. I love seeing him with kids. Our kids will be pretty lucky.

This little man just loves him (but hates me).

Working from Home (er...the Inlaws)

Last week was insane. This week begins our month at the inlaws and my first REAL week of working from home.

Why a month you ask?

Well, my job was nice enough to let me work remotely and since Fred didn't have a job just yet we decided to come spend some quality time with his fam while we could (cough - and not pay rent - cough). So here we are.


Right - smack - dab - in the dirty dirty.


Here it is at the end of the day and what is my assessment of working from home?? eee. Well. it's more productive - probably because it's boring.


(insert that noise that the movies have - like a ripping or eeerrrk)

The above was written on Monday. See below for an update.


Day 3: must have someone to entertain me. please. an 18-month old that doesn't like me yet doesn't count.

I got a package today from work (I nearly skipped to the door and hugged the delivery man) inside was stuff for a project and a surprise my coworker sent. Yep. it's a flask. Perfect for that moonshine (disclaimer: no I won't actually be using it. well maybe I'll try water in there. that could be fun).

I'm still getting all my stuff done BUT I'm bored to tears. I have to take walks to the end of the hallway and back. Or take pictures of myself which leads to thoughts like, 'oh. my. I think I've let myself go.' or 'people are going to think that all you wear is a Gap sweat shirt - wait. is it?' or even 'I bet Fred tells me I'm gay for taking pictures of myself and then posting them online. too bad soo sad. He's stuck with me.'

The perks of working from home?



Please reference the pictures again. yep. I'm still in my PJs and I can bust a move in the kitchen without anyone seeing me.

Still I'm bored. Help!!

Pictures would suggest...

that I often look as though I have a droopy eye. hmm. when did this happen?
Remember the incident? I definitely look a little like the hunchback (because of the eye...not the posture)

Well yesterday we took some Wald family photos (images to come...hint Christina) and once again I questioned that I might indeed have a droopy eye. Sheesh.

Maybe instead of getting sagging skin - my eyes will get saggy. Won't I be a treat for the eyes in a few years!

pictures would also suggest that I have gained some weight. hmm. that won't do either. Anyone know how to get a stress fracture to heal? Mine is back from the Ragnar...

The Move

Well we were in Arizona for about 3 days -
day one was spent unloading our uhaul and reloading it into the exact same trailer type thing (what they call a storage unit) in the 95 degree weather.

day two - we searched for housing. Narrowed our search to our top three and now we can't decide. So looks like we'll just wait until we get back to Arizona. (but for those of you in Logan - we're paying double what we paid there. how awesome is that...yeah).

day three - we headed to St. Louis for Johnathan and Grace's sealing and the beginnings of our month with Fred's family.

However, while we were in Arizona I loved it. I can't wait to get back and settle in.

Thanks Ashley & Tyler and Kecia & Brian for letting us stay at your houses!!

Where's Waldo?

Are we in Utah? Arizona? Missouri? Arkansas?

We're in one of these states although, I'm not sure we know where we are right now!

The Journey

Well we've left Logan. It was really sad for me and I might have teared up a little. Huge thanks to our friends you came to help haul, clean, and shove boxes into vehicles. Good news - somehow we got it all to fit.

We drove down to my parents house where we stayed until Sunday morning so we could do some last minute family time, hangouts, and Utah errands.



Then we left bright and early Sunday morning to head to Pheonix. The drive took us two extra hours with the giant truck and it was a freaking beast to fill up. The greatest victory was the 60 miles of downhill coming out of Flagstaff - that's 60 miles that kept the truck on Full - woot!



But we're here now and its perfect. literally...

Last Week

Today marks our last Monday in Cache Valley. On the drive back from my parents it hit me a little - it was our last time driving to Cache Valley until...who knows when. I'll be back for work which is nice but possibly never again together and most likely we'll never call this place home again.

I won't get teary...I won't...until Friday

(post script: I forgot to post this yesterday - now its Tuesday and it snowed. a lot. I'm ready to move now.)

(post post script: We hung out with our friends for the last time tonight. We've decided to kidnap all of them and bring them to AZ with us. Anyone have tranquilizers?)

Chicago Part Dos

Waiting for the train

The Flags on Michigan Avenue

Mmm Ghirardellis!

Fall in Chicago is gorgeous...

Millennium Park Theater

I love the contrast in the trees and the leaves

The Bean

Chicago Clouds (my favorite picture)

I was more excited to see this than a Monet

And last but not least...

Chicago was really fun minus the rain. I also wish Freddie pants was there with me (it would have been even better). Oh and I wish it wouldn't have looked like I was dating my coworker. That was awkward.

Business Trippin'

This week I'm in Chicago with work. I'm at a killer marketing conference that makes my brain want to explode.

I got here on Tuesday night, so my coworker Dru and I headed out on the town for some pizza at the Original Uno's Pizza.

At Uno's you order your pizza first (because the pizza takes an hour to bake) and then we waited over an hour for a seat (they told us it'd be 35-45 minutes). Once inside - we waited another hour for our pizza.

This is my bored/feed me face. Good thing I downloaded the best app ever that let me take all these cool pictures!! (shake it photo)

We ordered too much pizza. Yet we still ate a lot of it - and it wasn't that great.

After pizza we walked around a bit and I snagged these great shots...

Almost looks like an LDS temple...but it isn't.

Be prepared for another post or two and you know what a business trip means...
something like this.
or this.

What Not to do...

While you're on Accutane - do not get your eyebrows waxed. More than eyebrows comes off...

Lets not talk about how my eyes look really droopy

Or super swollen.

Saturday

I did it. I started packing.

On Saturday, I was goal driven and headed to the Uhaul store to get a few boxes then to get tape and bubbles, and then home to pack.

Here is what I accomplished:

• entire office - boxed, vacuumed, emptied
• DVD's - boxed
• all picture frames - wrapped and boxed
• Laundry
• My Closet - boxed except for the essentials

There is still a lot more to do...

This week my goals are:

• Laundry room (minus the essentials)
• Garage
• Guest Room (aka Fred's room)
  

Don't be too jealous.

So it begins

It's October 9. We move October 31st. 22 days away gasp.
Have we started packing? Nope. Well…I packed 2 boxes clearing the books off of our bookshelf in the office. Then I got bored.

I am hoping that the packing can begin this weekend. Like really begin. Whether or not I can convince the husband of this I'm not so sure.

Here are our hold backs and their translations

Here are his hold backs on packing:
-it's too soon. (we have weeks. We're fine)
-"I don't want boxes everywhere around the house" (and I'm not willing to walk them to the garage)
-but we still use everything (we don't really but it works as a reason right?)

Here are my hold backs:
-its too soon. I mean not really but kind of. (why do something today when you can do it tomorrow? Or in our case in 2 weeks?)
-I can't pack my clothes because I wear them (lets be honest. I wear 1/4 of my closet. But all those clothes I can't pack because I wear them. Plus who knows what will happen. I may need to wear one of the 500 shirts for an occasion such as: fill in the blank)
-packing alone is boring (it really is)
-this is going to require cleaning (gag)
-Fred doesn't want to and he's cute so I'll hang out with him

Please bless that we'll pack. Something.

My Marriage in a nutshell...

Let Me Win!

I really really really want to win this drawing from Fantabulously Frugal and Handbag Heaven.

I have a thing for purses...

PS. thinking about buying me a Christmas present? Handbag Heaven is a good place to start!! (just no animal print please)

Learning New Things

It's Going to be Hard

At the end of the month one of the hardest things will be saying goodbye to our friends. We have some of the greatest friends here in Logan. Friends that accept us for who we are: the couple that doesn't shut up (we talk. a lot.), the girl with the super smelly husband, and the TMI couple (more the husbands fault).

We'll miss you guys and you'd better come visit

Operation Empty

Because our moving schedule is a little well...stretched**...I'm trying to downsize everything. Including the contents of our cupboards.

For the next month as we prepare to move, I'm going to try to not purchase any new groceries minus the essentials and extra ingredients for meals (ig. bread, milk, eggs).

Since we aren't moving directly into a house we can't take any perishables. So...here comes a month of getting this:

empty.

Think I can do it??

**we move our stuff to AZ the first weekend of November but we aren't actually moving in anywhere until the end of November. We're flying South for some much needed family time.

It's Official...

At the end of October we will no longer be residents of Logan. That's right.
We're moving.

Many of you know that I married a golf addict. How addicted? Well my amazing husband was just accepted to a golf school in Arizona so I would say he's extremely addicted.

Fred will be attending the Golf Academy of America where he will become a certified pro. We're both extremely excited about the move and are ready to see what happens in this next chapter.

Be prepared for lots of posts about moving!