Welcome to The Ward

Today was our first Sunday in our new ward. Here's the rundown:

1. I was sustained. You're looking at the second counselor in the Relief Society presidency, which is funny because I'm still trying to learn to like RS. I feel like I made really good progress in the singles branch, but that was a small group of girls my age, and all in the same basic circumstances. This is a ward, with a lot of old ladies, most of whom I don't know anymore or have never met.

To quote my handsome husband who was referring to a different calling possibility for himself, (read it with feeling): "I don't want that calling, but I wouldn't put it past the Lord to humble me!"

That about sums it up.

2. I thought there was going to be a fight in Sunday School. There were a lot of differing opinions, and those who expressed them weren't totally above being hostile. It was glorious.

3. Sister-in-law Sarah, who just had a baby, is still playing hookie from church (baby is still really young). My brother is on the high council and had an assignment today. Sarah's mother went back home on Friday. End result of all of these circumstances: Aunt Emily and Uncle Darren were asked to take the boys to church. The 7, 5, and 3 year olds.

I don't remember a thing that was said in any of the talks.

But I did confiscate first a long "magnet stick" of some sort that collapsed on itself like an antenna from Nathaniel. It definitely wasn't collapsed while in his hands. After that we had to take away a fist-sized bouncy ball.

4. Then we came home, ate a tasty little crockpot meal, and took a 4.5 hour nap.

Getting out of church at 12 is awesome.

Talk to me, friend

Sometimes at work I find myself so bored, and nobody is around to let me talk their ears off.  Usually when this happens I think, "I'll just make a Facebook status". But then I realize I can't cram all the millions of words running through my mind into a respectfully short status.  So then I think, "Fair enough, I'll just make a blog post".  But THEN I realize that most of what I'm thinking is either really boring or way too personal.

So then I just make a blog post about my thought process and almost come close to satisfying my need to speak at someone.

Almost.

I guess you get to hear the boring stuff.

1. I am sooooooooooo tired. So tired. It is really ridiculous since I went to sleep at 11 last night and got about 9 hours of pretty restful sleep. Whatever the case, I really want a nap right now, and I don't see that opportunity presenting itself very soon. Yayyyy.

2. Apparently I am supposed to get a meningitis vaccination before I can even register for classes.  I don't know what those are supposed to cost, but at the CVS Minute Clinic they are $151. EXCUSE ME? As though I wasn't a poor enough student. I'd rather give them a lung.  I am going to call the student health center on campus and see if they have a competitive price, as soon as I feel like looking that number up.

3.  For some reason a really slow computer makes almost anything not worth looking into.

4. I made a super duper delicious fruit syrup stuff the other day without a recipe. I am so psyched. I am going to experiment with it more, but I believe I have the makings of a very very tasty fruit pie filling.  After I attempt the pie, I will let you know how it went. My goal is to make it onto Pinterest so I can be faymus.

5. Last night we bought tomato seeds and flower seeds and little planter things for them. Mr. Hottie is going to teach me how to grow stuff, since I have a very dismal (score of zero) record when it comes to successfully navigating the plant world. We got tomatoes because he insists on it being worth it, and flowers because I enjoy looking at them more than I enjoy eating tomatoes. It's give and take around here ;-)

6. I don't know if I will ever finish the thank you cards for the wedding and shower and receptions, etc. I have completed six and there are about a million left. Thank you everybody, for everything you may have given or done. I really appreciate it, but at this rate I will be sending them out with my firstborn's graduation announcements so don't hold your breath.

7. I want to shave my head sometimes just to get the weight of my hair off, but I love my hair and want it longer. I'm still developing a solution.

8. Speaking of my hair, I don't know if I've mentioned this already, but sister-in-law Jaymie dyed my hair the weekend we were in California, and the color makes me feel super sexy. I have no idea if it actually looks good on me, but I don't mind.

9. One of our patients directed me to a shredded *dairy-free cheese at HEB! That means I don't have to drive so far to get it! This stuff tastes better anyway. I don't know about the cost difference, but whatev. I have the option of flavors, and there is a sliced cheese, so I can kick the ham sandwiches up a notch.

*still has casein in it, so I'm not sure if it's okay for severe dairy allergies

10. I have been wanting to watch Pocahontas for the last few minutes.  Unfortunately, it is not on Netflix. Thanks for nothing, Netty.

Life stuff

1. A truck blaring literally the worst music I have ever been unprivileged to hear just pulled into our parking lot.  I can't even define it enough to find an example of it on youtube, but just try to imagine a garden hoe vomiting on a chalkboard.

2. My handsome husband started a new job! I stalked the company's website today, and I have to say that I am pretty impressed. They've been in business longer than my grandparents have been alive, and it is international. I haven't checked my facts, but I'm about 99.2% certain that we can't say that about his previous company.  The best part: as long as he gets off on time he will be home wayyyy before me, so guess who gets to make dinner? Score 1 for The Wife.

3. He has to be at work at 7 every day, which means he has to leave absurdly early, which means his morning routine begins obscenely early every day. I would swear I've married an old man.  He loves to wake up early and watch the news and just give himself time to "wake up and be ready for the day!".  He'll make a perfect annoying daddy one day, I can feel it.  I'll fight on the side of my kids when it comes to Saturday "fun days" doing yard work.  Opposites attract, I guess because it's one of those cute things I really like about him.

4. Our new bishop wants to meet with us tonight. You know, the bishop of our family ward. I haven't been to a new ward since I joined singles, because even when I went back to the family ward I kind of knew the bishop already, so it wasn't a big deal. This seems seriously grown-up. Either we're in trouble, he is going to tell us to have children (Darren's speculation), or he just wants to say hi and give us callings. I'm going with the first option, because Darren totally skipped our first Sunday in the ward in favor of drill, and I'm sure Bishop is furious about that. What kind of man have I married...sigh.

5. I really want a puppy.

6. The Upstairs Neighbors are so noisy.

7. Our newest massage therapist was supposed to give me a massage today in exchange for the bowl of chili I brought her yesterday, but put me on the back burner when somebody requested her services in exchange for money.  I can't say I blame her at all, but my back is so sad. I was really looking forward to it. She promises to still get me sometime soon though, so it's all good.

8. We ate a french toast casserole last night, and despite various needed improvements in my technique (like, following the directions and letting it sit in the fridge for 4 hours as instructed), it was rather tasty.  Next time I make it, it will be perfect.

9. Breakfast food means my favorite meat: BACON! Yummmm.

10. I'm going to cash a hundred billion dollars in for laundry quarters when I leave work so that we never have to do a late night beggar run to Walgreens again. I hate crossing big streets on foot.

Celtic Woman

Way back in December, a little before Christmas, Russell brought it to Darren's and my attention that he was in love with every single member of the Celtic Woman group.  Really in love.  So we decided to surprise him with a piece of paper that promised a trip to see them when they came to Houston in April.

It happened! The show was absolutely amazing, and I DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone! Go see them the next chance you get!

Enjoy this little sample of this year's Celtic Woman show.

(...though I have to be honest, I do not really enjoy their version of The Lion King music...best left to the black people if you ask me.) She totally owns "I Dreamed a Dream".

The sweetest parts of being married

Hey Fans! I know I know, it has been forever. But in my defense I've been getting married and stuff, which happens to take a lot of time.

And by stuff I mean catching up on the first three seasons of Parks and Recreation. Holy cow! That show is so hilarious. I CANNOT get enough of Ron Swanson.

Like, seriously.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share some of my very favorite parts of being married to Mr. Hottie:

1. Getting to see his cute face walk through the door every evening carrying his "lunch pail" (I don't know...maybe the California school systems were heavily influenced by "Little House on the Prairie", but that's what he calls it.  I love it.

2. Whenever I happen to cook something delicious (which happens to be everything....if he knows what's good for him...), and he compliments it with a kiss.

3. While laying in bed each night slowly drifting to sleep, holding hands for a few minutes.  Then we turn away from each other and actually go to sleep (never to touch again for the duration of the night if we can help it....we are in the market for a dirt cheap (FREE!) king size bed, by the way).

4. Getting to share almost everything. Especially his Fruit Loops (I warned him there was a good chance I would eat a lot of it....turns out I was right).

5. Getting to refer to him as "my husband".

6. Getting to share the same last name finally.

7. Getting to talk about our future kiddos, and planning out their names. And their mile-deep dimples.

8. The fact that he trusts me to do his laundry, even after I turned half of my new towels into nasty tire-cleaning cloths. I mistakenly washed a stupid floor rug with my towels. Didn't know it was going to bleed on everything and suck the softness right out of it all. Sigh....however, don't think that I don't still use them. A towel is a towel.

9. Not having to leave every night to go home. I already am home.

10. Laughing with him.