I feel disconnected from everyone and everything. I do read all of your blogs to keep myself updated! I am thinking of all of you and want to let you know that I love you. I working a lot and to make it more hectic Vance and I both have new callings in the ward. I am so grateful for the holidays coming up because I need them.

surprise!

So we the proud parents of an adorable little boston terrier named Elsie. We have had her for a while I am just lame and posting!

Our next big announcement is that we are also proud homeowners. We closed on the house in early September! It's 1300 sqft, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, and it has a pool! We have been working really hard to get as much done inside before we have to move out of our apartment on the 17th of this month.

Sadly the third day of owning our home we were robbed. Luckily we only had two boxes in the house full of tools and other odds and ends. But my digital camera was in one of the boxes. So I can't show you any of the things that we have done. So just to give you an idea we....

stripped the wallpaper out of the bathroomS, and dining area...then sealed the walls
painted all of the baseboards and trim
sanded all the cabinetry and so far have stained and sealed all of the frame work in the house
painted the master bedroom and kitchen
spray painted all of the vents
and instead of replacing the fixtures in the house we spray painted them a bronze/brown color!

Our bodies are sore and our hands feel like they are going to fall off. But it is awesome to see results. It looks awesome so far and once I can get my hands on a camera I will post some pictures.

We also were in Utah last week for the wedding of Kimmy and Garrett. It was an exhausting trip but well worth it. I can't wait until Christmas!!!! And in other news I got a job!

Major Milestones

Vance got accepted to graduate school at UTA.
On July 2 I took my state boards. I PASSED!!!!
We have put an offer in on a house, which means we will be in Texas for at least 3 years!
I had an "exciting" procedure done...
I have taken my resume to various high end salons. I got a call back today for an interview.
My baby sister is getting married!

Things have been slowly falling into place...

Oh how the time passes by

Since April a lot of stuff has happened! Vance got a new calling in addition to our current one. He now works with the deacons. Softball season ended and now the summer league has begun. Vance missed his second game and last nights game was rained out!
From May 14 - June 7 I was in beautiful California. My sister had some major surgery and I offered to go out and help her. The initial recovery takes about 6 weeks but on top of that she has 4 boys! And then on top of that her husband has a dental practice to run and is the bishop in their ward!
There were moments when I wanted to cry but in the end I wouldn't have traded my time there for anything. I saw two parents actively involved in the lives of their children and one another. Collins is a successful business man but more importantly a loving father and husband. When he gets home it is all about his wife and boys. And once everyone is tucked in bed he then gets back to work on his practice or church calling.
My sister is a great example of strength and perseverance to me. Despite the pain that she was in, she would have her children gathered around her to read scriptures with her. She would go over homework with them, talk about their days, and constantly tell them how great they are and that she loves them so much.
We live in a society where the family is falling apart.
Despite the trials we face it is possible to raise a righteous family. It is possible to be successful in your career to provide for your family as well as being there for your family. My sister and her husband are great examples of this is, as well as my other sisters.

Fun filled week

MONDAY I had the great opportunity to finally take part of my licencing test. I was in and out in about and hour and passed the written portion of my exam. I am now scheduled to take my practical on May 11th. I am a little nervous!

TUESDAY the missionaries had a Zone Conference. Our ward had the wonderful assignment to feed them. So I had the opportunity to go and serve them. It was a lot of fun. I was able to get to know some of the sisters in the ward better. Later that evening we went to tutor. And afterwards we went out to dinner for my birthday! Vance and my friend Katie surprised me with some beautiful flowers and a very cute balloon (Vance picked it out).


WEDNESDAY I was able to go to a Substitute Teaching Training. I am offically able to sub in the Grand Prairie Idependent School District. In the evening Vance went out with the missionaries to visit some part member families in the ward. It was great that he went because he ended up going to a family with a son in our class!

THURSDAY is softball day. Vance had two games. The weather had cooled down which was nice, but the wind was insane. But they won both games. We think that they are second in the league! Afterwards we had dinner at our house with our friends the Meadors.

FRIDAY was a girls craft night. I am used to going to the DI for my crafts so I felt a little disoriented. So I just grabbed random things and took them with me. I stripped a canvas that I had covered and painted it. Then I helped with other peoples projects. We also made to amazing choclated covered strawberries. It was a blast and I look forward to the next craft night! And don't worry, Vance ended up doing fun stuff too.

SATURDAY we got up bright and early to help our friends move! The moving only took a few hours to do and it's always nice when the people your helping are awesome. And we were then rewared by Kevins parents with great burgers and chips! I just have to say that I love the whole Meador Family! Later that evening we went bowling with some friends from the ward!

A few pictures of the happenings in Texas

So Vance and I teach a 14-15 year old Sunday school class. Did I mention that they are all boys? We we decided to have a class party which = lots of food and X-Box! We love our calling and will be even more involved with the boys because Vance has been called as the Assistant Decon Quorem Assistant!

Vance is on a city softball team called the "Has Beens." He was invited to be on the team from a member of the ward. Next to him is our great friend Kevin (who is also in our ward and in the bishopric!) This picture was from this past week. They won their game 18-10!

The remaining three pictures are from Saturday evening. We have made friends with a great couple in the ward, Katie and Kevin. Kevins parents have a REALLY nice boat that they dock at Lake Grapevine. Saturday was beautiful. The water was like glass. The boys and Katie wakeboared while I stayed dry with Kevin's parents. After they played in the water we enjoyed a dinner on the boat thanks to Kev's parents. I promise pictures of me in the water next time!

The hair has been

CUT...and now I am sad.

Easter

So we have had a wonderful Easter weekend. I feel that one of the many great things that comes from Easter is it's ablity to excite kids. For example, we had dinner at a friends house. To keep the kids entertained the women went outside to "hide" the eggs. Once they were all found one of the kids took the basket to the dad. What did they do? They held onto the basket handle and swung it over their heads and the eggs went flying all over the lawn. And that made the kids even more excited. Sometimes men just have the better idea, right?
So my next great example is my cute neice Emma. It is a rare and treasured moment to speak with her on the phone. But I have figured out the right times to call her. That would be when she takes a trip to California, Christmas time, and of course EASTER! She was so excited about the day that she even invited me to come stay with her. And not for just a short visit. I could stay with her FOREVER. And to top the whole deal off she would share her candy with me. Later Vance asked her if he could come too, she said ok.

The Hair DILEMNA

Ok so you must me thinking that this has to do with me...but you are wrong. I told Vance a while ago that I would not cut his hair short. So what does he do? He has not let me touch his hair. Really, I have not been allowed to do anything with it. So much so that he has a mullet forming in the back.

He just informed me a few minutes ago that he wants a cut. NOT a trim but cut. I don't want to do it! Some people are just meant to have longer hair, and he is one of them. And I am growing my hair out so shouldn't he also?

Happy Happy Birthdays!!!

Vance turned 26 on Saturday! We went out and did some fun stuff during the day and by dinner time we were starving. We went to a place called Buffalo Bills Wild Wings. So we were eating and having a great time. The waitress comes by towards the end and asks us if we wanted any dessert. I told her we would pass because I had a birthday cake at home. She quickly asked Vance how old he was and of course he said 26! She called him a liar and said there was no way he was that old. She thought he was no older than 19 until she saw the drivers license. So I decided to have her take a guess at my age....16. Yep we can fool em' all!
And happy birthday to my wonderful mother! I hope your day was wonderful and I wish that I could have been with you!

Our poor Honda part 2

Well these birds left two ginormous white turds on our front and rear bumper. Oddly enough they look just like Texas License plates. Go figure even the birds here must love Texas.

Our poor Honda

So I know everyone has seen or been in our Honda at one point or another. Well... most of you know that last Febuary I got a free ski pass (compliments of Ryan) at Kelly Canyon (the local ski resort). It was a great day until Ryans mom dislocated her thumb and was hanging out in the ski patol. I remembered that I had some ibuprophine in the car and went to go get it just to discover that my car had the passenger window broke out and lots of things stolen.
Well just last Thursday I found a sticker on my window telling me that they were going to tow my car in 10 days if I did not fix my expired license tags (they were not expired the tow guy does not know how to read idaho plates). I figured I should get the car registered here anyway, that way they would have no reason to tow my car. Well Friday morning I woke up early to get my cars safety and emmisions inspections when I saw my passanger window broke out again, ugh. This time they only took the CD player. We really do not like theifs because they seem to like our car.

Texas

My mom called my just to tell me to blog and post pictures...I said I would try...and she said "No just do it."
-So here I go. Vance and I moved to Grand Prairie, Texas (just west of Dallas) at the end of last month. The drive was long, long, long, and boring, boring, boring. So we made it here in two days I think? We live in wonderful, CLEAN, new, GATED apartment. The complex has a pool, hot tub, tennis courts, sand volleyball court, and fitness center. I LOVE THIS PLACE!
-To the south of us a few miles away we have the Rangers staduim, the new Dallas Cowboys staduim, 6 Flags, and 6 Flags Hurricane Harbor. And just east of us in Dallas we have the Dallas Stars and Maverkis...Vance is in sport heaven.
-We are in a great ward. Vance and I have been called to teach the 14 and 15 year old Sunday school class. It has been a neat and new experience. And I got cornered by the bishop yesterday and I am now giving a talk Sunday.
-We have family here and it has been fun to hang out with them and get to know them. They have been great in making us feel welcome and showing us around.
-Vance and I have also noticed that here in Texas some people take great pride in their ride. I will have to post some pictures so you can see what I mean. It is different.
-Vance's job is going well. I on the other hand have been having a difficult time getting the correct information on how to go about getting licensed here.
Well that is all for now!