A Cap, A Gown, and a Million goodbyes

The time has come to say goodbye to the last four years of my life. It definitely was a bitter sweet feeling. But before I get into all that I do have to share that I am typing this blog on my brand new Mac Laptop. Uh talk about exciting and overwhelmed with gratitude. I have been wanting one forever, because I have taken so many classes using photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, and I have spent the last four years using Macs that it was hard to go back to a PC. So for my graduation gift I got a Mac computer fully loaded with all programs. I am so happy and so grateful. I am so sorry I don't mean to brag, but boy oh boy I can't stop smiling about it. It was the absolute perfect gift. ok anyways back to graduation.

Graduating with my husband and my brother was awesome. Even though for the first half Dan had to sit on the stand, and Michael was asleep it was still awesome. My parents threw us a little graduation BBQ and it was sweet because Dan's parents came down to Rexburg for the celebration. Also Michelle came down with Sager. It was fun to have family there. We all graduated with Bachelor degrees. A few people spoke and we shook some hands, and then it was over.  It was hard to say goodbye to friends and the campus that I have grown to love. So many memories are there and it is weird to know that I will never sit in another class room on the BYU-I campus ever again. The chapter definitely closed as I was handed my diploma and shook my professors hands for the last time.  Now on to the next great chapter of our life. Its still hard to think that a week from today I will have left the only town I have ever known and start brand new. We have yet to start packing even though we pick up our u-haul truck on Thursday. Graduation was amazing. Its an amazing accomplishment to know that I have a college degree, along with some real work experience. Thanks to i-Comm. 

I know this is long but I have to do a little shout out to my parents. If it were not for them I would not be where I am today. Literally! I forgot to write my acceptance letter and was no longer accepted to BYUI. Luckily my dad set everything straight. and they paid for two years of this education. I hope someday I can pay them back, but I know that I made them proud my finishing my degree. Anyways I just wanted to say that if it were not for them I would still be an

uneducated foo. ha ha there are a few pictures so just keep scrolling down, and if you want to see all of them go to my facebook page. Happy Reading

a. 

Leave Casseroles alone

No matter how hard you try to fight the mushy goodness of a Casserole, you know that it always ends up on your plate, and you go back for more. People Casseroles are good. What better food is there when you can add any type of ingredient that you want, mix together, put in the oven and have a meal in under 30 minutes? Who cares if its brown or green, or if there are things in there that are a little chewy? Its good, so I am standing up for these poor dishes who get ravished because they may look like vomit. There will be a time when Casseroles make a comeback and we will be paying big bucks for a turkey, Jerky Casserole.

1 Jar, 753 Buttons

A button jar. who would have thought that a peanut butter jar full of random buttons would create a million memories. Growing up I traveled to my grandma Mendenhall's on numerous occasions. Many times by myself and me and my grandma would spend hours doing the most simplest but the best activities. Through the years the peanut butter jar full of buttons became my favorite thing to do with my grandma. We would make all sorts of jewelry, and being the grandma that she was, she would wear that jewelry the whole time that I was there. Life goes on, but I always remembered that button jar. 

Ok so the purpose of my button fiasco. My grandma died a little over 7 years ago, and about 3 years ago my grandpa was put in a assisted living. The house that was so lovable for so many years was put on the market and sold. I told my mom that all I wanted from that house was that jar of buttons. For some reason no one understood why I desperately wanted this jar, but it held sentimental value. After searching many times, no one could find that jar of buttons. I was heart broken.

Well I am moving in less then 3 weeks and my sister Megan took me to lunch one day. It was a "GOOD LUCK LUNCH". As we are waiting for our food she handed me a brown bag. I opened it very excitedly, I mean who isn't excited about gifts?. anyways there it was my very own jar of buttons. It is hard to explain the flood of emotion that came over me when I saw all 753 buttons in my very own jar. One that I will share with my children and my grandchildren. The tradition will stay alive. That one simple jar of buttons brought back floods of memories for me and Megan. We spent the remainder of the time talking about particular buttons that were in the jar and other things we loved about our grandma. It was an amazing gift, and it had so much meaning behind it. Thanks Megs for remembering such a memorable thing to me. 

Here is my jar. Isn't it beautiful 

A dishwasher conversation

The other night at about 9:30, 10:00 I realized I hadn't emptied the dishwasher yet, obviously it needed to be done I couldn't just leave them in there sitting in the dark so I started to unload it. Being my weird self well I started talking to the dishwasher. I asked it what it was like to be a dishwasher, and well I am not totally crazy so it didn't answer, but as I kept unloading it I thought why do I unload the dishwasher in a particular order every time. I asked the dishwasher what it thought, and again said nothing. I told myself that I needed to blog about this because my curiosity struck, I wonder how people unload their dishwashers. I have to open the bottom and pull out all the off objects like knives, spatulas, scrappers what ever is odd in there, but I leave the forks butter knives and spoons. Then I go to the top take out the cups and put them completely away. I then go to the bottom one pull the plates out but don't put them away I just set them on the counter. Everything else on that rack gets put away. Then I go to the top and put the rest of the things on that away like the bowls or other odds and ends. Then I go back to the spoons and forks. Last I put the dishes away. This is just how I do it. You could be like my mom who hates unloading the dishwasher, like literally hates it. She would rather do a butt load of dishes by hand then use the dishwasher. She is funny.
Anyways I just wondered how you all unloaded your dishwasher. Please enlighten me, I am bored with out Dan, and well really don't have anything else to write about. If you are bored that's OK too, I am not offended. OK good readings to you!

A camping he will go

Well the start of the end has begun today. Dan left for field camp this morning and this point was the beginning of us actually getting ready to move. Its hard simply because I am alone. Dan is gone for six weeks on his geology field camp. I mean he does get to come home on Saturdays but what is hard is that all the data and research that they collect through the week they come back on Saturday to log it all into the computer, but at least I get to see him for a little bit. Its so funny because we have been talking about field camp when we first started dating, and it felt forever away! It was forever away, two years away! Now its here and its the start of the count down. Dan will be back July 13th, we graduate the 23rd, and then we move July 31st. Its going to be a long six weeks but I hope to keep myself busy with starting to pack up the house, friends, family, school and work. ha ha am I not the biggest complainer you have ever heard? I love it!

Mothers Weekend

BYU-Idaho has this thing where mothers get to come and visit their kids for a weekend. It used to be a week but ya know things change. ha ha. My mom and I never really took this to our advantage simply because I see my mom almost every week if not more, so we didn't even think twice about it the past 3 years, but mothers weekend crept up and I thought this is my last "mothers weekend" at school since I graduate this semester, and my last chance to have an excuse to just hang out with me and my mom. Don't get me wrong I love when my dad or Dan comes or when my sisters are here, but for some reason its just feels great to have it be just me and my mom. My mom and I have a very special relationship, being the last child and practically being raised a single child we grew to become best friends, and being able to tell her everything has really helped throughout my life. Anyways we decided to take our last "Mothers weekend" and do something, nothing big, just a chance to hang out mother and daughter. We went to the Pineapple Grill and ordered sushi (my mom was so proud to be ordering it on her own, usually its my sis megs who does that for us) and then we did a little shopping and went to a play called "SMASH". It was good, funny and very political. I liked it. Thats pretty much the gist of our evening, but it was so much fun.

Me and my mom with our Sushi

This was me trying to attempt the chopsticks, not really my cup of tea

Then our food, It was so good and it was one of the better sushi places I have eaten at.

Welcome to SaddleBrook

Well here it is folks, our home for probably the next two years!
The trip to Texas went great except for a few flight problems with lightening, but who needs to worry about that when you are in a large massive metal ship flying in the middle of it, but ya know its all good.
Anyways we found these apartments and instantly loved them just on our second stop. We looked at other ones but nothing compared to the quality of these. So I was very happy to sign the contract and be done with it. So I am going to give you a little virtual tour. ENJOY ha ha


This pictures is taken from our stair case. We will be on the second floor which I am very happy about, but anyways thats the pool/vanity area. It includes a hot tub and little kiddie pool which I was very excited for. Not sure why because I don't have kids but it was still my favorite.

This will be our Kitchen. The door to the left will be the washer and dryer. and the other door is a pantry which I am super excited about. All in all I was very happy with the kitchen.

Master Bathroom/tub ha ha

Guest bathroom, shower and tub to the right.

I love this. This is our master bed room. The bathroom is to the right, but those two doors are two walk in closets. We actually will have room now for all of our clothes!


This is our living room. I am taking the picture from the other side(obviously) guest bedroom is right behind me. Then the patio door is to the left of Dan. I bet you are wondering where the bar stools went. ha ha tricked ya didn't I.
Over all I was so happy with finding this place. We are so lucky to be in a really good community with other families around. I felt safe, and I actually wasn't scared.(Thats a first) anyways i hope you enjoyed the little tour!
Tootals