Devin is 24

Happy happy birthday to my fantastic husband Devin! I am seriously the luckiest girl in the world! He is a fantastic husband and I am so grateful for all that he does for me. 24 never looked so good!

Apartment Living

WARNING - this is ENTIRELY a vent session.

When we moved to Wyoming we decided it would be wise to move into an apartment. We don't know how long we will live here and real estate out here is ridiculously expensive so we settled for the top floor of a three level complex. As most apartment complex's go we can hear pretty much everything the people next to us and below us are doing. We can hear their screaming children, their loud TV, their doors open and close, their bathroom fans, and can even hear when they slide their chairs out from the kitchen table. Knowing that we live in an apartment we have just faced the fact that this is part of apartment living. We have never complained or felt put out by this. Last week we got new downstairs neighbors, a very young married couple (probably 19ish) and their 2 year old boy. I went and introduced myself, trying to be a nice neighbor. Two days later, at noon we got a knock at our door, it was the downstairs neighbor lady. She came upstairs to complain that our music was too loud and that they could hardly hear their own TV. Devin was home and apologized and turned the music down. Our music however was hardly loud at all, I was in the next room and could not even hear it to begin with and once it was turned down I could not even hear it in the same room. I that they were being ridiculous, but in hopes of being neighborly decided that we would keep the music barely audible. We unplugged our surround sound even so that we did not get future complaints. This made movie watching not nearly as enjoyable, but we wanted to be courteous. This morning, not even 5 days later they came back up to complain. When they knocked on the door I could not even believe it. It was Sunday morning and Devin and I were both standing at the stove cooking breakfast. There was no music on, no dog barking, nothing. We were seriously just standing there making crepes hardly talking because we were still a little groggy. What was their complaint this time? They can hear us walking around our apartment. Seriously, what do they expect? Of course we are going to walk around our apartment. I swear that next time that their kid is screaming for hours on end, I am going to walk down their and tell them to keep their kid quiet because I can't hear my own TV over their kid. This is ridiculous, I tried to be nice but no more. They are far louder than we are guaranteed, especially since they have a screaming kid. I hope that they don't keep this up, because since we are above them we could really make their lives miserable. Think: Jumping up and down above their kids room at midnight. We don't want to be that way, but if this continues I may have to stoop to their level.

Any suggestions as to how I can get around my apartment without walking?

Giveaway...

My dear friend Shelayna is doing an awesome giveaway on her blog. You should definitely check it out, especially if you love to cook like I do!

http://shelblogs.blogspot.com

You should also follow her blog because she is fabulous!

Long Weekend

I never take pictures and always feel like in order to blog I need to post pictures. Well this past weekend was no exception, I didn't even take my camera. :( I am going to write about it though because I am sick of looking at the same old post.

This past weekend we went to my parents cabin in Island Park! My entire family was able to make it and I honestly think that I have the funnest family ever. We had so much fun spending time together as a family. My brother in law Jeremy brought his snowmobile and my dad rented two on Saturday and Sunday. We had so much fun snowmobiling. There was so much snow up there and so many fun meadows to play in, it was awesome. When we weren't snowmobiling we were relaxing in the hot tub, watching movies, eating treats, and making adorable Valentine Wreaths. It wasn't the most romantic Valentine's Day ever, but it sure was fun. Devin gave me the most beautiful Ruby (my birthstone) ring that I absolutely love, and I gave him a gift card to get a massage and foot massage.

Other than that we are still enjoying Rock Springs. Devin has been working very hard and is still having a lot of success in his new store. I am really enjoying my job still, I have been recruiting new students and helping seniors with all of their college stuff. I am also volunteering as a reading tutor for a high-school student in Green River. It has been such a rewarding experience, seeing him improve his reading skills each week has been fantastic.

We hope that everyone is doing well!

I love love love my new job! That is all.

PS: Wyoming is FREEZING, seriously in the negatives EVERY day.

JOB

I got a job! I have been patiently waiting for a job to come open that I felt would be a good match for me here in WY. When I read this job post I knew that it would be perfect. I will be working as the GEAR UP outreach specialist for WesternWyoming Community College. I start Monday and I am thrilled. Here is a description of what the GEAR UP program does, taken from the WWCC website.

GEAR UP is a federally funded program at WWCC that focuses many resources in order to help Wyoming students in 7th – 12th grade that qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch. Students who are served by the WWCC GEAR UP program are those who live in Sweetwater, Carbon, Uinta, Sublette, and Lincoln counties. For students who live in other counties in Wyoming, please click here to see which community college serves your county.

GEAR UP is a program that helps students become more successful in middle school, junior high and high school. The program helps build their aspirations/expectations to successfully graduate from high school and go on to college. It is also a program that involves and informs parents about post-secondary education options, preparation, and financing.

Some of the many services that are provided to students include academic support, tutoring, mentoring, job shadowing, college application and selection, ACT/SAT testing, educational and cultural field trips, college visits and workshops. The program also includes an annual Summer Academy and Awards Banquet held on-campus at Western Wyoming Community College.

Some of the services that are provided to parents of GEAR UP students include academic planning, workshops, family events, educational and cultural field trips, financial preparation and support, and career exposure.

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving this year. Preston and Heather were incredible hosts and we loved spending time with the Keller family. We had a fun Spanish night on Wednesday, made super cute watch bands, played in the Turkey Bowl and got very sore, took a few family pictures, ate delicious food, and spent time with some of our favorite people!

Things I miss about Utah...

Family

Logan

Mountains

Trees

Cafe Rio

Best Buy

Pounders

Friends

Bunco

Craft Stores

Update

Wow I really suck at this blogging thing. I wish that I could say that it is because I am super busy, but that is not the case. The past 2 weeks I have had more free time on my hands then ever before. So here is a long over due update on our lives...

As many of you know we moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming about a month ago. Devin's company moved us out here and it has been a great experience so far. He has been working 80 hour work weeks trying to get his new store up and running and new employees trained, so I don't get to see him too much. His store is doing fantastic and he is really enjoying it.

A week after we moved, my old company sent me to Idaho Falls for 2 weeks to help open their new store up there. It was a lot of hard work, but I learned so much and met some interesting people. While up there I got kidney stones (again) and had to go to the ER. I made a co-worker take me to the hospital at 6 AM, and I was so embarrassed since I had only met him the week before. It sucked getting so sick without Devin there. Later my dad and little sister came and picked me up, so I got to go to Tremonton and be taken care of by my family which was nice.

After the 2 weeks in Idaho I have been jobless. I have had a job since I was 15, so this is so new to me. At first I was so bored that I wanted to die, but have slowly learned a bit about being a housewife and entertaining myself. I have made a lot of yummy treats and watch Good Things Utah and Regis and Kelly every day. I've been looking for a job too, so hopefully I can find one soon.

Overall things are great! We miss our family and Logan, but are really enjoying our new adventure in Wyoming. It's only about 2 hours from Salt Lake so if anyone wants to come visit we would love to have you!

Devin's Internship

Devin had a great time with his internship this summer. We hated living apart, but it was a great experience for him. He made great connections and they offered him a job when he graduates in 2 years. The summer went by surprisingly fast being apart. We really hope that we won't have to live apart again. I was so excited for him to be home that I filled the house with balloons and welcome home signs!

(Sorry the picture is blurry)

99 things

I am bored so I decided to do this post, even though I really do have so many things to blog about!

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Mine are in Orange.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38.Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London- Does Monaco count?
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car-I don't think I ever will.
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Devin's Internship

Things have been going well for the two of us and we are as happy as ever! Devin got offered an internship for the summer with Barrick Gold, he will be working out of their Cortez mine in Elko, Nevada. We are very excited for him to have this opportunity, especially in a time that companies are rapidly cutting out internship programs.
Barrick Gold is the largest gold mining company in the world and their cortez mine is their largest mine, because they are a global company this will create great job opportunities for Devin after graduation. The downfall to his internship is that I am not able to move to Elko with him. I get health benefits from Best Buy and I need to stay working there to keep them-obviously!
He leaves May 5th and will be there for 10 weeks. He works 4-10's which will be nice because he can come home on the weekends. His current employers have decided that he is too valuable to lose so they are holding his manager job for him until he gets back. This is incredible and we feel so lucky that he will still have his job when he gets back.
Wish us luck living with out each other for 10 weeks... it will be so hard but we know that it is the right thing for us.