Jordan and I decided to go to Boise for President's Day weekend.  I love being able to spend time with my family and everyone was home this trip which made it even more special.  We spent the weekend celebrating Valentines Day by making cupcakes with Ella and going to the movie 'Valentine's Day'.  The rest of the weekend we spent watching the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, shopping and of course spending time playing games.  

Jordan surprised me with flowers right before we left for Boise.  They were beautiful and although we were worried that they might not survive the weekend we arrived home to the flowers looking just as beautiful as when we left. 

The past few weeks have had their ups and downs.  I am still unable to find work after two months of looking.  I feel frustrated but blessed that we are able to live without the worry of money while I continue to look for a job.  I have discovered that I like being at home.  I have rediscovered my love for cooking and am thinking about going to culinary school to learn the art of baking. 

Jordan and I spend most nights talking about life after graduation.  Next month Jordan will go to Seattle and Boise to interview for possible jobs after he graduates in July.  It is exciting to think about how different our life will be next year.  So many possibilites!!

  

 

Jordan and I spent New Years weekend in Boise. 

One memorable morning we started the day with a "girls only breakfast".

When we got home from breakfast Jordan pulled me aside and said that we needed to talk.  My car had started making a strange sound on our drive from Colorado to Idaho and as a precaution we had taken it in to be checked out before we headed to Rexburg.  Jordan told me that when he had spoken with the mechanics it was as he thought it could be...the worse case possible.  The engine had thrown a rod and was ruined. 

We spent the next few stressful hours trying to figure out what was the best thing for us to do.  Here we were in Boise with a car that would not make it to Rexburg.  We were quoted $4000-$5000 to fix the engine by several mechanics. We were under the impression that the car was still under warranty and discovered that the warranty did not apply to us.  We talked with our parents for advice, spoke with the dealership for their advice and in the end we made the decision to trade in the car for something smaller and more economical.  We purchased a brand new 2009 Hyundai Elantra! 

I am so grateful that my Dad was able to come with us as we purchased a new car.  He helped us get the best deal possible.  With it being December 31st we were able to get an amazing year end deal and because they dealership knew our circumstance they helped us out as well with giving us a great price on a trade in and an amazing warranty on the new car.

Driving around the past few weeks I am so happy with this new car.  I think that although the situation was stressful it turned out in the end to be such a blessing for Jordan and I.      

Once we arrived in Rexburg we moved into our new apartment which we love!!  We love the space, the location and our new ward.  We have friends old and new over weekly for game nights which usually consists of phase ten or Skipbo.

   

This semester in Rexburg will be challenging.  Jordan is at school from six in the morning Monday through Saturday until five at night.  I am so proud of how hard he works and how he can visualize the goal in the end.  It is exciting as he is about to graduate in July to talk about future career moves, graduate school and our new life.  It will be interesting to see where we end up in the next few years. 

I am constantly on the look out for a job.  The job market in Rexburg is nonexhistant and Idaho Falls is not much better.  I was so stressed out the last time about making money to pay our bills.  I spent many sleepless nights and tearfull prayers trying to find a job.  In time I did find a job.  This time around it is different.  Finacially we are ok until I find a job and the stress is not there.  I get bored sitting at home all day but do not complain.  I know that I am blessed and will in time find a job. 

"Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. During His earthly ministry, He taught men the higher law. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick. He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. To us He has said, 'Come, follow me.' "

Merry Christmas!!

Disneyland

Meeting Mickey Mouse

Autopia

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

King Arthur Carousel

While about to ride the Mark Twain River boat they asked Jordan and I if we would like to steer the boat.  Jordan steered most of the ride while I worked the whistles and bell.  So much fun!

Meeting Tigger!

Indiana Jones Adventure

Jordan's favorite ride in Disneyland.  Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.

One of my favorite rides was the new pirates of the carribean and the haunted mansion decorted to the Nightmare before Christmas.  So spooky!

Its A Small World at Christmas!

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Our final night we stayed to watch to fireworks show.  They had fireworks choreographed to christmas carols and at the end of the show huge snow flakes fell from snow machines all over the park.  Magical!

We loved every moment during our trip to Disneyland.  With small crowds we were able to ride every ride in both parks during the three days we were there.  Everything was decorated for the holidays which made it so pretty and festive.  The perfect way to start our holidays.   

Disney's California Adventure Park

Welcome to Disney's California Adventure Park!

Meeting Mickey Mouse

The twilight zone tower of terror is a ride that plunges 13 floors.  Jordan loved this ride and rode it twice!  I found it more frightening than fun and decided that once was enough for me.

Jordan and Stich.

Meeting Kenai and Koda

Jordan was so excited to ride California Screamin' a huge old wooden rollar coaster.  (As you can tell not my favorite ride.) 

The Pixar parade was so fun! 

Englestead Canyon

Englestead Canyon

Distance: 7.4 technical miles
11 Rappels: Longest Rappel 290 feet.

After a day of rappelling one of the greatest canyoneering canyons in the world with his friends Tyler and Jonathan.  I think I have a pretty happy husband right now.

For the beauty of the earth

For the Beauty of the Earth

Hymns, For the Beauty of the Earth, no. 92

1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

[Chorus]
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,

3. For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Hakuna Matata

With two weeks left of our internship in Zion, Jordan and I have been spending many nights talking about what is next for us.  We talk about finances, work and Disneyland.

Since we were engaged we have talked about going to California.  Jordan has never been to Disneyland and is so excited about going.  Knowing how much fun he will have makes me about as ecstatic as he is about this trip.

Being only a few hours away from California we are able to drive, stay at a decent hotel with fantastic rates, and be in the park with few crowds.  We have saved all of the tips we have made while working at the ranch and have just enough to go.  Still we have wrestled over spending the money and have gone back and forth on whether we want to go to Disneyland now or wait until we are more financially secure. 

We finally decided that twenty years from now we won't be disappointed that we went.  Spending the day playing at Disneyland and eating ramon noodles in our hotel room at night will make for great memories........Disneyland here we come!!

Happy Halloween

In honor of Halloween we decided to skip the typical haunted houses, corn mazes and costumes and instead went to Texas Road House for dinner and then saw the movie Vampires Assistant.

  

                                                       Heidi and Jonathan

Sharon and Brian

Jordan and Brook

Kourtney, Dave, Heidi, Jonathan and Mary Vaughn

We had such a fun night together.  Dinner was so good and although the movie wasn't our favorite we still laughed a lot and had a great time. 

Festive Fall

Jordan and I were walking to work one morning when we saw this amazing sunrise.

The first storm of the season came in suddenly and left just as suddenly.  It was a high of 30 degrees with a wind chill factor of ten below. It was so COLD! We were happy when the next day it was back to being sunny and warm. 

 

Sharon and I carved pumpkins in her apartment to decorate the front desk.  It made it feel much more festive and I think we did a pretty good job.

Game night at Zion Ponderosa! 

The very few of us left working during the fall have spent the last few nights playing Skip Bo, Phase Ten and a really fun game called Last Word.