Mark's Birthday!

Last Friday was Mark's 29th birthday!  It was the first time we have been married for one of our birthdays and so it was full of excitement! haha, not really that exciting - but we had fun. 

One new tradition that Mark was probably not fully prepared for was birthday breakfast!  My family has always had a big birthday breakfast for the birthday boy or girl and I loved it and wanted to carry it over.  Mark is, hmmm...how do I say this, not a morning person :).  He hates having to get up in the morning, in fact, I daresay it is his least favorite time of the day.  I told him that if our kiddos someday are as hard to get up as he is, I might just have to give up now!  Getting up one is hard enough!

Anyway, but he rolled out of bed and we had orange french toast which was yummy.  This was one of his more awake - trying to be excited - pictures.

Mark had one class in the morning and was done by 9:30 which was pretty wonderful.  He was able to come home and relax for a bit and then he drove me downtown for my first and only interview I have been able to get here in Denver.  The job itself wasn't super high on my list of jobs I wanted but at least it is progress right.  At least it gave me a little positive boost with the job hunt.  

The job itself would be really interesting in a very interesting environment.  I would be a teacher's aid for kindergarten for three hours and then for first grade another three hours.  I think I would learn a lot and it would get me in the classroom which is all I really want.  The school is in a really poor part of town - definitely what you would expect from an inner-city school in a large city.  The building itself is over 100 years old and really run down.  I felt a little overdressed (and was actually told so) when I arrived for my interview in black slacks, green blouse, and black sweater.  All of the other teachers/secretaries were in jeans and tank tops (no air-conditioning).  A little weird.  They told me that the school is about 90% Hispanic (I really wish I knew ANY Spanish) and the rest is black.  She told me that I would really stick out in the environment (especially if I kept dressing like I do) but it would be a really good experience.  I would love to just dive in and do what I can for these little kiddos.  Anyway, we will see what happens.  I guess whatever happens happens, and at least I know I am in the system of names and maybe something else will come :)

After the interview we came home and just relaxed during the afternoon.  Later, Mark decided that we would go out to eat at The Olive Garden and then we went and saw a movie.  Mark is a big Steve Carell fan and so we went and saw "Crazy Stupid Love."  It was pretty funny - some parts probably didn't need to be in there but for the most part is was good.  The other people in the theater probably made it far more entertaining then it actually was with their laughter - so overall fun night.  

We came home and had cake and opened presents.  My family sent him a Harry Potter Encyclopedia of sorts which is actually pretty fun to look through and The Lord of the Rings trilogy in a nice leather book.  LOVE PRETTY BOOKS!  And I got him a new game for the wii that we can play together.  Pretty low-key but it was a great day.  I am so thankful that I have this little cutie as my hubby.  

His birthday also happened to fall on our sixth month anniversary - SO - Happy Six Months!   

White Coat Ceremony

Last weekend we were able to have two very exciting things happen.
1) Mark's wonderful parents were able to come down and visit with us for a few days.
2) Mark had his white coat ceremony for pharmacy school.

Last Thursday Mark's parents were able to come down from North Ogden and spend a couple of days with us.  Friday morning Mark had some classes he had to go to but then his parents and me drove down to campus to meet him for the ceremony.  I didn't really know what to expect but it was a really great program.  The dean of the college spoke for a couple of minutes about the profession, their goals and what they can expect for the future.  It was fun for me to hear some of the stuff that we have to look forward to in the future. 

After the dean spoke they announced each member of the program (all 157 of them!) and they came up and helped them put on their "white coats" and then they signed a poster board with their class motto on it. 

I will admit I felt a little silly, but I even got a little emotional when they called Mark up.  I am so proud of him and everything he is trying to do for our little family. 

Afterwards all of the students stood up and recited their motto together. 

We got to take home a copy of it but I can't seem to find it now - but it was great!  After that they were dismissed to take pictures and then they had a picnic for all of the friends and family.  We had a good time eating and walking around the campus and being able to spend some time with one another. 

We took Mark's parents on a drive around the Denver/Aurora area and that was fun.  We then ended up going and seeing a movie.  We saw "The Help" which I had heard nothing about actually but LOVED IT!  I was again bawling like a little baby, but it was a really great story.  After that, Gus took us out to dinner and we came home and played games and ate cake.  I know their are many talented people out there that know how to make amazingly beautiful cakes - I unfortunately learned that I am NOT one of them.  This is was my go at making a pharmacy-esque cake.  :)

 

The next morning we woke up, had breakfast and then said goodbye to Gus and Darlene.  It was so great to see family again.  I know we haven't been away for that long but it was still great nonetheless.

We feel so grateful lately for all of the love and support we have received from amazing family and friends.  We feel blessed to be here together and to be moving forward.  Thank you to all of you who have been so wonderful.  We love and miss you all. 

Our New Home

I am proud of myself that I got the pictures of our new house A LOT quicker on here than our previous house :)  So here it is -

We are the bottom apartment - nice big windows which we like - 

just not quite as private as our house on the lake ;)

The view when you first walk in

Our living room

Our "office" area

The little peek-a-boo hole in between living room and kitchen

The dining room

The kitchen

Our laundry room 

(that is the door at the end of our kitchen)

LOVE being able to do laundry at home now

Our bathroom

Our bedroom 

And our closet - 

it is a good thing it is huge because we need it for storage :)

We have really loved being here so far.  We have been very blessed to be around such wonderful people.  We have also enjoyed being close to things and not having to do everything on our Saturday like we used too.  Getting used to traffic being a factor whenever we go anywhere has been an adjustment but we are making it.  

There have been some funny things that have happened.  The closest non-scary grocery store (believe it or not) is actually the Super Walmart about five minutes away.  We learned it is one of two "experimental" Walmarts in the country  built to focus on health and environmental things - anyway, so it is generally pretty nice.  

Anyway, so I was in there grocery shopping the other day and a lady came up to me and well, I will just dialogue the conversation out for you:

"Are you married?"

"Yes."

"How old are you?"

"22"

"You look like you are about six."  

"...Thanks..."

"Did you grow up in Denver?"

"No, I actually just moved here."

"Where did you move from?"

"Utah"

"Oh - so are you a Mormon then?"

"Yes"

"Oh don't worry, we will break you in soon enough."

And then she walked away.  

WEIRD!  And I would like the record to show that I was not wearing my hair in pig tails, wearing a Dora the Explorer shirt or anything of the like that would make me look like I was six, but apparently I did.  Haha, it's been an interesting experience.  I guess I should be grateful - by the time I am 40 I will look like I am only 24 - BONUS!  

Gotta love Denver!

Moving Day

August third we hit the road and started our trek to Denver.  However, moving is rough stuff.  I have moved a lot (college will do that to you) and especially this last year I have moved a lot.  In twelve months, this is my fifth move.  AHHH!  I am happy this will be my last for at least another year. 

Our last day of work was Friday, July 29th and our moms came up that night to help us on Saturday get some stuff done.  It was great to have their help and expertise :).  Honestly, I don't know WHY we have so much stuff.  It all adds up so quickly.  The first day of packing Mark said, "all right, I think I could live in a one bedroom apartment the rest of my life - we are never moving again."  Haha, good goal, don't think it's going to happen though :). 

We made it all through though.  Tuesday my Dad came up early in the morning and drove down with Mark to pick up a U-Haul from Logan and then they loaded it up while I was busy cleaning up the house and packing up last minute things.  It was a long, toasty day but we made it.  Thank you so much Dad for helping us - we couldn't have done it without you. 

This is a little banner that the health clinic made for Mark on his last day - so nice of them

 Tuesday night my Dad left to go home, and Mark and I went and said our last goodbyes.  We have made such wonderful friends in Garden City and it was hard to say goodbye, but we hope to see most, if not all of them, again.  We feel so blessed to have been surrounded by such wonderful people that welcomed us into their lives.  We will never forget you.  

Tuesday night we slept on the floor in a sleeping bag in our empty house.  Kind of a sad feeling.  But we woke up bright and early and started our trek towards Denver.  I drove Lola (our wonderfully dependable little Corolla) and Mark followed in the U-Haul.  It was a long day but we were lucky to have had no problems at all.  

We pulled into our new apartment complex at 5:30.  Mark stayed with the truck and I went and got everything settled with the leasing office.  We were happy to walk into our apartment and know that this is where we were going to stay for awhile and it was someplace we could kind of call our own.  When we walked back out to the truck to start unloading (which I was a little nervous about doing just the two of us anyway) we were greeted by the guy that lives above us and another couple to help us unload.  There is no way we could have done it without them.  We had everything unloaded by 6:30.  It was incredible.  I almost felt like crying I was so grateful. 

Everyone here has been so absolutely wonderful.  They have been friendly and helpful.  One of the biggest blessings is that couple that helped us move in happens to be another young couple, that just graduated from BYU and our members of the Church.  I could not have asked for more.  He is starting the dental program on the same campus as Mark and is also a first year.  The Lord truly does hear and answer our every prayer.  We have already done a couple things with our new friends and it has been so great to not feel so alone here.  Like I said, we couldn't have asked for more.  

We have now been to our ward twice now and they are by far the most friendly ward I have ever been to.  Before sacrament meeting even started the first week we were greeted by each member of the bishopric, the ward clerk, the missionaries and almost all of the families sitting around us.  I am so grateful to be a member of the Church and almost automatically have a ward family to be apart of.  Everyone has been so helpful on my search to finding a job and helping to just make us feel welcome.  

I am very grateful that I haven't felt as "alone and isolated" as I was told and thought I would be.  Then again Mark has been home with me this whole time and so I haven't really had anytime to be alone yet, but I am trying to be optimistic.  Mark is having his first day right now and from now on from 8-5 every day I will be here alone (that is until I find a job - keep your fingers crossed).  I am so proud of him and for all that he is doing.  I couldn't have asked for a better husband and best friend.  He is so thoughtful of me and I truly feel so blessed.  I can't wait to spend forever with him and to be able to experience this growing time in our relationship together. 

PAINTING!

There was some furniture that we wanted to paint - try and make it all look like it kind of went together - so it didn't look quite so much like it was all hand-me-down things.  Maybe other newly married people will understand, sometimes you just want things to feel like they are yours. 

Anyway, we knew if we didn't do it before we moved that it would probably never happen.  So for about the last couple weeks we lived in Garden City we were painting fanatics.  This proved a little more challenging then I initially thought because we were going through paint a lot quicker than I thought and we were both working full time + had lots of family things + lived a good 45 minutes away from any paint supplies.  It was a little tricky and we were basically doing in right until the very end but we got it all done.  Luckily my mom was able to come up one weekend and help us out a little too.  THANKS MOM! 

We ended up doing our entertainment center, two bookshelves and a nightstand.  Exciting!  But we really like how it all turned out.  It all kind of flows now :)

And one of our little bug friends that wanted to enjoy the new paint as well :)

It was a big project, I learned a lot, but happy to have it done :)

Garden City House

I feel so incredibly behind in my blogging responsibilities lately.  So I have definite catching up to do.  Most of this is probably for my own sake - got to stay organized, of course :). 

I have been meaning to put pictures up of our house that we lived in in Garden City for months now and now that we have actually moved I think I will finally post them up. 

We absolutely LOVED being able to live right on Bear Lake.  It will honestly probably be the one and only time in our life that that will happen so we really tried to soak it in.  Our actual address was:  2536 North Bear Lake Boulevard. 

We will be honest - it's not that much of a looker on the outside but for having a four bedroom house a month after being married for just us two - we thought we were doing pretty good :).  Plus the view from the back of the house was incredible so that made up for a lot. 

Here are some pics of the rest of the house:

Our bedroom - complete with our snazzy piano which we LOVE!

Our bathroom - had two counters/sinks - IT WAS GREAT!

The living room

The dining room

The kitchen - LOVED all the space

Our little office space

Down the other end of the house were the three extra bedroom which we never really used and we just let the family we were renting it from keep their stuff in there.  So it was mostly storage for both of us.  

Second entrance/laundry room (but we didn't have any "laundry" equipment :))

Bedroom #1

Bedroom #2 - there were 9 MATTRESSES in here from the family we were renting from - CRAZY!

Bedroom #3

Guest bathroom

And now our finally feature of this house which we were able to call home for four months...

 

Afternoon rainstorms...

 Sunny days...

And especially sunrises...

We loved living here because of the amazing view we had from our back porch.  It was seriously incredible.  I never got tired of waking up and seeing the sunrise over the lake.  It was beautiful.  

I guess for some funny things that made the house a little "cozier."  THE BUGS!  Due to our close proximity to the lake + having almost ALL of our window screens be broken (which prevented us from opening them thus causing us to sit in lots of heat inside) + having the windows themselves not close all the way = LOTS OF BUGS INSIDE.  It was a regular nightly ritual for Mark to walk around the house with some raid killing swarms of bugs in corners, the ceiling and just the walls in general.  The gnats were especially bad at night which caused us to go to be early and never be able to read in bed or do anything for that matter.  It was a bummer by the end but we loved it anyway.  

So here it is: 2536 North Bear Lake Boulevard - we love you!