"We're In This Together"

This weekend Ryan and I went down with two of our favorite people, Tyler and Kira, to Salt Lake for the Outdoor Retailer Convention. It was so awesome! It happens twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter. Its where all the outdoor sports stores come together and show off their new gear and clothing for the upcoming year. THere are competitions and drawings and give aways all over the place. It was HUGE! There was so much to look at! Ryan was in rockclimber heaven! He even got a free pair of new rock climbing shoes courtesy of Climb-X.
The only downside to the whole weekend was that I was battling nausea the whole time! I'm sick from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep. And then in the middle of the night when I wake up to pee... for the fifth time! I am constantly keeping a steady stream of crackers going into my mouth. If I can help it, I never want to see another Saltine in my life! On Saturday, after walking around for a long time I just had to sit down. So I found a wall by the bathroom and sat. I told Ryan that he could go on with Tyler and Kira and that I would catch up. But he refused. He said, "I am NOT going to leave you here by yourself! We are in this together!" My heart just about melted... until a wave of sickness hit me and I had to lay down. I fell asleep on the floor by the bathroom for 30 minutes and he stayed by me every second instead of looking at all the cool things I know he wanted to be looking at! To top it all off, that night I woke up at 4am feeling ready to puke. He got up, got dressed, and went outside in the freezing cold to the car to get my water bottle. He is just the very best! I am so lucky to have such a devoted and caring husband. As much as I feel like this sickness and pregnancy is mine to bear- he is there with me 100%. We are in this together! And I'd have it no other way. I love you Ryan.

My little Raspberry!

So, incase you haven't heard yet- yes, IM PREGNANT! I'm only about 7 weeks along. I meant to wait to tell anyone until I was at least 10 weeks... but everyone knows I'm no good and holding things in that are this exciting!!! So out it came! I don't have a definite due date yet. I'll be going to the doctors in about a week and a half to find out. But if my calculations are correct, we're thinking it will come about the last week of August or the first week in September! I like to refer to it as my little raspberry because that's about how big it is right now! But this little raspberry of mine is causing problems! First cramps, now morning sickness and cravings. Yesterday all I could think of was scrambled eggs, steak, and taco bell! It was the weirdest feeling! I'm finding though that the more I drink water, the better I feel- although the nausea doesn't leave completely.
Ryan and I are SO excited for this new experience! It's going to be great! Now the we just have to settle in and start the long wait! At least I've almost got 2 months down! :D

Below Freezing

School has started and I am feeling a tad bit overwhelmed! I haven't been in school for 9 months and I feel very out of practice! It's crazy! So far, I like all my classes! I'm taking Chemistry/Lab, MicroBiology/Lab, Advanced First Aid, New Testament, and a Drawing Class. It's definitely keeping me busy- that's for sure! Not to mention that I'm still working 4-10 MWF. As crazy as it all seems, life is pretty good right now. We have our finances undercontrol. I get to see Ryan more often than I thought I would, now that we're in school. He had his surgery and everything went well, and I worked out this morning! Doesn't that always just make you feel good? :) Anyways, I just feel so blessed to be living this life I have with Ryan here in Rexburg attending BYU-I... even when it does get into the negative degrees outside at least once a week! I am so grateful for all the things that the Lord has bless me with! College may be hard while being married- but its an experience that I think is well worth taking!

In Rolls 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Lets see, highlights of 2010: First of all, I married the love of my life and had some awesome times making memories this year like going to Hawaii for our honeymoon, living with my parents in VA, driving to Niagara Falls and the Palmyra Pageant. We also did a lot of rock climbing and Ryan almost came away with the year unscathed- until he broke his wrist and now is scheduled for a surgery. We finally made it to our own apt back in Rexburg, ID. Struggled finding jobs together and strengthening our faith together. It has been a rollercoaster events- that's for sure! But at the end of the day I'm just glad to be with him. As for other highlights of the year- I became an aunt for the first time and to of my best friends are engaged to be married! It's been a great year and I can't wait to see what this new year will bring us! Thanks to all of our friends and family for such a great year! We love you all and wish you all a happy new year as well!

Aggravations

So Ryan and I have been trying so hard to get a Managing Position for an apartment complex here in Rexburg and we've been so close several times! Every time we are in the final contestants for the job and we get jipped of the opportunity in the last leg of the race! It stinks... royally. This last week we applied for another one and again we were in the top 3 and they said we didn't get the job because we "looked too young". What kind of crap is that!??! This is so lame! We are qualified but can't do anything about the way we look! Uggg. I'm so frustrated about this. We really need the job. Free rent. Pay. We'd be able to make it through school easily. But I guess the Lord lets us go through the hard before we get to the easy. I can be patient.

As for Christmas... IM SO EXCITED! Ryan and I have been getting presents for each other secretively- but then again not so secretively. Ryan went shopping while I was a work so that I wouldn't know, but he couldn't keep it in and told me right after he brought me home from work! Haha. And then I tried to go shopping while he was in class but I got so aggravated when I made the trip all the way down to Idaho Falls only to discover that the gift card I needed was still at home! So i had to drive all the way back up and down again. I was SO mad at myself that I couldn't help vent my frustrations to Ryan. He, of course, thought it was ridiculous. ANd I suppose he was right. haha. But now Christmas shopping is pretty much done, our car is packed, and we are ready to head down to St. George for Christmas. I can't for Ryan to open his presents! He is going to love them!!!

Did I mention that it is snowing... again. Pray for us on our drive down.

Christmas Bells

So it turns out that my work isn't going to let me have a vacation for Christmas so we wont be going to St. George for as long as we had anticipated. So, we decided that we needed more Christmas Spirit in our home! WE GOT A CHRISTMAS TREE! Hallelujah!! It's so exciting! I absolutely LOVE christmas! I love the decorations, the meaning, the nice things people do for each other the stories, and the snow! It's all so wonderful. Growing up my family would pick another family that we knew and would sneak around their home in the cold and drop of presents for 12 nights in a row before Christmas! It was always so thrilling- especially when the family started watching for us. They didn't know who we were, but it always left me with a good feeling knowing that we helped someone else feel of the Christmas spirit. And every Christmas Eve mom would buy a new Christmas book to read to us. They weren't always about Jesus or His birth, but about good meanings and morals that have to do with Christmas time. I love those stories! Now this year will be my first Christmas away from home... and it breaks me heart. I'm going to miss my sisters' beautiful and excited faces as they open presents around the tree. I'm going to miss mom's cooking and her laugh. I'm going to miss dad's attempt to keep order as my sister climb over each other to get to their presents :) The smells, the feelings, the memories. I miss my family.
On the happy side though, this will be my first Christmas with Ryan! And that is exciting! We got a tree that is pre-lighted, so that was nice and mom sent us some ornaments! And I cut out tons of paper snowflakes for the tree and window! It's so happy looking! Now we just need to remember what Christmas is all about- being with family and serving others.

My Speed Climber

So my dear husband is an awesome rock climber! One of the best in Rexburg- I'd say! :) But I just like to brag about him. There was a rock climbing competition last Saturday at Regional Rock Walls. There was a Speed competition and a Dyno Competition. Ryan got 2nd in the speed climbing competition! He was awesome! Everyone kept saying how he "floated" up the wall! And it's true! The Dyno competition is kind of a monkey-like swing from one hold to another. The competitors had to go from easy to medium to hard dyno routes. He didn't place in this competition, but I still think he did great!
As for the rest of our week- it was hectic. I worked three very long 12 hour shifts at work. It was brutal. But the extra money is always good! The Christmas season is upon us! My most favorite time of year! But it isn't really a holiday that is conducive to modest means. I have a little front door wreath and some blocks that say joy for decorations. But I wish I could decorate the whole apartment head to toe in festiveness! We recently got one of my favorite Christmas CDs- Mannheim Steamroller! I've been playing it lots recently! Hopefully we can get a tree this week!