BYUI

I am now 5 weeks in to the semester at BYUI.  I am taking 4 classes this semester (up from taking 2 the past 3 semesters) and I can definitely tell the difference.  I have been extremely busy.  Classes are going well though and I just keep telling myself...9 more weeks...9 more weeks...! 

I am scheduled to get my Associate's Degree in December and so that is the carrot for this crazy semester.  I know I can't do this every semester, but I think it will be worth it this one time.  My Bachelor's Degree will take me a few more years, but hopefully I'm done around the same time as Andrew is done with high school (or maybe the year after).  It's not a super fast process, but I'm really grateful for the opportunity to attend BYUI.  Graduation here I come...9 more weeks...9 more weeks...

Time for tile!

It is an exciting day!  The tile is in and we are down to a tiny bit of trim and some painting.  It's been a long time coming, so it is extra sweet to be at this point!

Hopefully Greg and I will get the rest of the work done this weekend and can put this project behind us.  The house looks great, but it was a heck of a way to get there!  I am very excited to not have workers at the house and to get back to normal.  Hurray for tile!

Morning skies

I never tire of the sunrise views from our house.  Ava and I often talk about the sky and every once in a while I grab the camera.  It was a beautiful morning. 

Conference and Cuddling

The day after Andrew's birthday, Erin told him that her Dad accepted a job in Utah and they will be moving.  It was definitely a sad day for all of us.  We love the Freeze family and will be sad to see them go.  Craig is going right away, but Emily and the girls are staying until the end of the school year.  

They invited us over to watch the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference and have dinner.  The kids were all kicked back in big comfy chairs with plenty of treats.  

Then I looked over and saw Erin and Andrew.  Cuddled right up...both sets of parents right there!  I guess it is no surprise, but somehow I was still surprised.  This cuddling is new since turning 16 and with the news of the move, they are wasting no time!  

These two really are kind to each other and have done such a good job of waiting to turn 16 to date.  Conference was great and so was dinner and it was definitely fun to be together. 

Book 1 Complete

It has been a really fun experience to record this book on tape.  Geneil and I have been working for about 6 months - just an hour each week - to record this.  She does the editing and computer work while I am recording and I do it when she is recording her book.  I finished the initial recording and then it was sent off to be reviewed and edited.  It came back really quickly and there was only 1 error!  Geneil and I were so happy!!  We tried really hard to catch everything, so honestly we were thrilled.  The change was actually a pronunciation.  There is a town called Pokagan and I pronounced it Poke-a-gone.  Locals say Poe-key-gan.  That was it!!  It was such an exciting feeling to record the finished time and know that it is going into production. 

I started working on my next book right away.  It is about the history of Indiana Beach.  Honestly, it's a terrible book!  Geneil and I laugh and laugh while recording it.  The outtakes are much better than the book.  When I am done (and she is done with hers), our next book is a series of urban legends about Indianapolis.  I really enjoyed Six of One though...it's great. 

I'm adding this to my non-existant resume!  Audio book narrator...well, la di da!

Volunteering at the Library

The Indiana State Library is really beautiful.  I took these pictures while I was there volunteering at an expo for the blind.  I have been volunteering for Indiana Voices at the library for about 6 months and they needed people to help at the expo.  

 

I had to take this picture of the BACON...I couldn't resist.

The vendors were down below...not a bad setting for an expo!

Down to trim and tile!

Everything in the house is done except for the trim and tile.  My friend Kim came over and helped me clean for HOURS!  It is amazing how much construction dust there can be in all the little nooks and crannies of a house.  She made the process much quicker and much more fun!

 

It is so, so nice to be at this point!

Date night

We had an outdoor movie night at our house.  I was in charge of candy!  

Everyone else brought an appetizer or snack to share.  

It's hard to tell, but we had 13 or 14 couples.  It was a really fun night with great friends!

Katydid

We had this huge katydid visit us near our back door.  It really is amazing how much it looks like a leaf.  What an amazing little creature.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

 

Andrew had a pretty normal birthday day...seminary, school, football...and then he got home and the festivities began!  Isabella came over and brought Andrew a platter of cupcakes.

He was really excited and the cupcakes were delicious!  

Little did he know that Erin had come over after school and decorated his bedroom with Ava and Zach.  He was really happy when he went upstairs!

Here is the gang!  All dressed in Packer's gear too!

Then Zach gave Andrew his present...2 new ties that Andrew wanted.

And Ava gave him some i-tunes money.

Time for a little snapchat fun...

And then lucky for us...it was perfect timing and the Packers were playing the Bears that night.  Time to do one of Andrew's favorite activities - watch the Pack play!

We got all kinds of "Superbowl" food and enjoyed the game.

There was a rain delay and we caught up on the Voice.  

I love these kids!

Andrew requested a white cake with real strawberry frosting.  Here is the result!  Happy 16th birthday Andrew - we love you!!

Completing the season

Zach had the last cross country meet of the season and did a great job finishing up.

He worked really hard this season and we are super proud of him!

18 years

Greg got me these roses for our 18th anniversary.

They were really beautiful and opened nicely over the next few days.  

We went to a rotating restaurant at the top of the Hyatt for our anniversary dinner.  It was really good food and a fun setting.  It was a nice way to celebrate 18 years!!

Mapping our travels

This is our latest wall hanging.  It's a map that is mounted on foam core and framed.  We have little pins in it showing all the places we have visited since being married (either separately or together).  It's a fun way to see where we've been and a fun way to look at all the places we still have to explore!

Things are not where they belong

The carpet is going into the boys' room after 14 weeks of no carpet!  That means that everything had to be put into Ava's room though.  Things are looking pretty crazy right now.  

I wasn't sure where Ava was, but I had guessed she was in the basement.  I went into my bathroom to find her reading in the tub!  The workers had put my bedding in there and she decided it looked really inviting.  

We've got lots of things that aren't where they will ultimately go, but we are making progress and still finding comfy spots!