Thanksgiving

It's that time of year again, where we stuff our faces... and look like turkeys. I can't believe that it has already been a year since I came down here to meet the family!

Turkey Day started out with The Turkey Bowl of course!

Patrick catching the pass he ran for a touchdown!

Me trying to steal a kiss duing the game! :)

Love the Turkey Bowl.. I don't get to play because I am a girl, But thats ok I was hanging out with the wives/ girlfriends of the boys. There were about 50 people there so they had 3 games going on at a time. And Patrick would want me to mention that he won against Lewis.

Then we headed on home to make the appetizers- that was our job this year. So we made "pigletts in a blanket" and 7 layer dip. It was a hit, if I might say so myself!




And then the boys got to work on the Turkey. Brother Downs came and brought his Fryer. And we fried 2 turkeys, it was so delicious!

The men watching the Turkey cook

This was the first time I met Grandpa Hinckley. While we were engaged, we tried 4 different times to get up there, but it snowed each time. So it was very nice to get to sit down and talk to him!!

With Grandpa here, we had four generations of Hinckleys!

It was a great Thanksgiving, with family and friends, and a Cowboys win!

CHHHHHANGES!!!!

Ok, I know, I have been kinda slacking in the blogo-sphere. BUT there is a lot to talk about. We Have been just recovering at the Hinckley Boarding home and working. The plan was supposed to be to stay in Texas and go up to BYU in April. BUT on Wednesday Patrick got a call from America Credit Union, the job he had before we got married. They said they had an opening. They have not had an opening for a LONG time and do not expect any others opening soon. The only condition: we have to be there by the New Year!!!

So we are packing our stuff up and moving BACK to Utah- Almost at exactly the same time we moved down to texas.

Funny how things work.

We KNEW we were supposed to come down to Texas

And now we know that it is just the right time to go back to Utah.

We are going to share a house/ duplex with Alex and Tara- our OLD roomates. That way rent is only $550 a month instead or like $800-900. for our own place.

It will be exciting and I think it will be a good change. I am still looking for a job, But hopefully I will get one before we get up there.

Can't wait to see what the future holds for us!

The Hinckley Boarding Home

We are now official residents at The Hinckley Boarding Home!

And loving every minute of it!

A couple of weeks ago we decided to just leave the apartment and stay with Mom and Dad, I mean at that point NOTHING could hurt. We were still stick all tht time and Patrick was not getting better after like 5 months of being sick. So we just picked up some of out stuff and went to stay at their houe. Not even a WEEK later, Patrick is feeling 20 times better than he was before.

We thing that there is something seriously wrong with the air quality at that apartment, when we go back to get some of our stuff to move out, you can just feel how heavy the air is and it actually hurts your lungs when you breath (at leat it does for us). We looked it up and it is called Sick Building Syndrome- seriously!!! It is from something in the apartemt that makes you sick- we think that there is probably mold and stuff in the attic and air conditioner. SO we are very very glad to be out of that apartment. Patrick is going to be back at work with in a week or two which will be so great!!!

We have been a little sick lately, the flu sprreads like wildfire at my work... seriously, and as soon as I get sick I give it to Patrick. I am a carrier of ALL DISEASES, I swear!!!

Other that getting better we have not done much this month...
Other than...

I am BRUNETTE again!!!! Thanks to Papa Hinckley, I was finally able to cover up the blonde and go to my more natural darker hair- Blonde was fun, but just not me!


I am reading a lot lately... to name a few I read this month


The Runaway Jury (John Grisham)
A Time To Kill (John Grisham)
The Symbol( the new Dan Brown book)
and well, don't make fun of me but... I am reading the Eragon books, and almost done!! They are good! Next I am going to read allt he Narnia books Oh I am just SO COOL!!! :)


We have some fun on the horizon though soon David and Marie and their family will be moving in AND Katie and McKay and Tyler will be there!!! It is going to be a full house!!!

12 Hinckley's jumping on the bed... hopefully no one falls off and bumps their head!!!!

Date Night

This past weekend I really wanted to go out to Olive Garden and see a movie- but seeing as we are broke, we couldn't go. So I decided to make our own Olive Garden dinner. I made some Yummy Potato Ham soup, homemade breadsticks, and salad. Patrick cleaned up the living room and lit candles all around the room. It was raining outside, and we had a romantic dinner on our coffee table (because we still haven’t finished our dining table yet.) And then made a bed on the floor and fell asleep listening to the rain. It was actually a really romantic day, just doing nothing. I love the Patrick!

Last night I had just washed my hair and was NOT in the mood to dry it! So Patrick offered to dry my hair for me! He was so patient and he worked on my hair for a half an hour just drying it and making it all smooth and straight! I think he is going to be my new personal hair dresser!! He must love me!

Labor Day!

Whoever thought of getting a day off to celebrate people who work is a genius! This weekend was SO much fun!

Saturday we watched the BYU game with Mom and Dad. Had a Big Ole Hamburger dinner and watched as the Cougars actually played DEFENCE!!! GO BYU!!!

Monday we celebrated our day off again grillin’ (it's like a Texas thing or whatever :) ) With the family and having a great day!
I wish we had a 3 day weekend EVERY week!

I can't wait till Pat is FINALLY better! That way we can really enjoy the weekends! Mono Is a KILLER!!

Patrick Is My Hero!

He did it!!! The Impossible Quiz is a piece of cake for him!!!

The Impossible Quiz

So yesterday I was at work, things began to get a little slow, SO I went online to find a game to play. I started this game called the

*** IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ ***

I though psshhh come on it CAN'T Be impossible- probably just word problems, riddles and logic. You have 3 lives to answer the right question and then its GAME OVER.

I did not get far, but I kept playing and playing, trying to get past each answer, and eventually dying and having to start ALL over again.

So when I got home I showed Patrick... we started playing at 8:oo and by 11:30 we finally gave up... for now. We even looked up a cheat sheet online, but this quiz is IMPOSSIBLE!!!! Well not impossible but INCREDIBLY HARD!!!

I TRIPPLE DOG DARE YOU to try this game, and if you beat it I will be thuroughly impressed!!!

When we finally beat it YOU will know!!!
Good luck gaming!!!

The Impossible Quiz.....

http://www.addictinggames.com/theimpossiblequiz.html

Cowboys PreSeason Game

On Thursday last week I got home and Patrick said he had a surprise for me. I had NO idea what it was but I hoped it would be inexpensive!...

It was... Pre Season Cowboys tickets- Twenty bucks... Jackpot!!!

This was the first game in the newly constructed Cowboys Stadium with the 60 yard long HD TV... It is the biggest in the world right now!!

We went with Big Lou and Lewis to the game. It was so cool to actually BE there. Parking was $40,and we were NOT about to pay that so we parked like a mile away and walked to the stadium. It wasn't too bad, but by the time I got there I for sure had blisters from my flip-flops!

When you see the stadium it looks like a spaceship. It is so amazing. You walk in and come out onto a balcony that overlooks the field which is about 2 stories below you. Our seats were at the very top so we hiked up there, and got ready for the game! I am sure glad they had the big screen, because from where we were sitting, the players were tiny!

The game was awesome, but by the fourth quarter all the second string players were in, so we left a little early, walked back to the car and had dinner at On the Boarder. All in all a GREAT surprise! I am glad we went once, but I don't think that I would dish out $100 for a regular season game. I would rather be at home watching it from the comfort of my couch! BYU Games however are different... and as soon as we get back to Utah.. a season pass wil be the First thing we get :)

Brown or Blonde???

Brown......



or .....

Blonde???


I am not sure which one I like the best! I think the darker is more me but it is fun to play with the color! What do you think??

Our Story...

Patrick and my story is posted as Dec 20th 2008... it is long.. but if you want to know our story please read on!

Well... I tried!!

So I got a job at SaltGrass Steak house. I have never served before and I thought I would give it a try, change things up for a bit. SO this week I have been training, taking tests and learning the menu- that sort of thing.

Then on Saturday they decided to have me out on the floor to get some experience... well if any of you know me, you know that I am just naturally clumsy, so carrying a tray full of food is probably not the best idea for me. So I stared practicing on lighter trays ones with drinks or two plates on them.

One of the first plate trays that I brought out I did it!!! I balance the WHOLE thing the WHOLE way to the table. I set down the tray and as I was setting down the plate.... ooopppppssss. DID NOT see the cup of hot coffee on the table, and spilt it ALL over the little old lady. It was absolutely HORRIBLE!!!! I pretty much started crying and the manager came over. I thought I was going to DIE! So since I was already shaken up you can imagine that the rest of the night did not go well dropped a couple more drinks, but on myself this time!

All in all NOT the best night in the world!

I came home and Patrick knew it had been a hard day. He told me to go take a shower and get dressed because he was taking me out. so we went to get some food and to see HARRY POTTER!!!! That was probably the ONLY way I was going to stop thinking about my HORRIBLE night. I loved the movie. It was the BEST one yet! Honestly I don't think they could have done it better, I cannot wait until the next 2 movies. It will be interesting to see how they split the book up!

(That night I totally had nightmares about spilling coffee and plates on people! And getting yelled at and fired!)

So I have been thinking.. which is never a good idea... that I am NOT going to be doing the SaltGrass thing. I didn't like the atmosphere. all the people who work there are still in college WAY into partying and well, being college kids. And as MUCH as I am YOUNGER than almost all of them, I Definentally am not in the same boat. I am happily married, and I don't drink... pretty much the complete opposite of all the people who work there. The manager promised me that I would not have to work Sundays, but THAT was a lie. So I figured I don't want to work in a place that I don't like, cant do that work, and would be working all weekend. So i am quitting before I start, and get into something that I know I wouldn't like.

NOW if it was the only job that I had, of course I would stick it out. But for right now I am still at Berrett Pest Control, and for the most part liking what I do. It is kind of nice to try different things and figure out what I like! I keep thinking more and more that I would like to be a 3rd or 4th grade teacher. It just is the one thing that keeps appealing to me. SO I think I will just keep working until we are out of debt then I can start finding things that I like, and hopefully I will be able to go back to school and get a teaching degree.

Sicky McSick Pants!

MONO!!!
So about 2 months ago I got mono. It was horrible because I couldn't figure out why I was so tired all the time. It started with the flu, turned into Mono, and ended in Mono and the flu! It was horrible! So now I am starting to feel a little better I still feel like I am a little sick but the WORST part of it is PATRICK has MONO now. Or at least we think so. He got it worse than I did becuase I got it back in college, so it wasn't the first time. But it is KILLING Patrick. Everyday when he comes home from work he is totally SPENT!
So either today or tomorrow we will know for SURE if He has mono and then he will be able to go on Short term disability because he CAN'T work with mono- business policy. So hopefully he can stay at home and just get BETTER!!!!
Being sick is no fun! When we get better we are going to have fun!

So a change is in store, not exactly sure how it will turn out but I will keep you posted...

California

Well I am finally back from California.

I went to go hang out with my family, and it was so much fun just be with them. My parent's house was kind of a boarding house to all those friends that wanted to spend Memorial Day Weekend at the Beach. Our good family friend Mike came down with some friends and Michael's friends from BYU were ALL in the house at once like 12 people, every couch was taken as well as most of the floor! It was so much fun, but goodness can those boys EAT!! I mean I have a hard enough time feeding Patrick. Imagine feeding 8 of your own- 4 of those MEN who have an Endless Pit for a stomach, AND one BYU football player and his friend. Needless to say we cooked a lot! But it was so much fun!

Going to the beach was awesome I missed it, and I REALLY missed the sun. So ever since Patrick and I have been married, we have not really spent a lot of time out in the sun- I usually WORSHIP the sun, but when the weather is not perfect the whole year around you are not outside all the time. So after 30 min. in the sun I was SUNBURNT. So now i kind of look like a lizard ( I started to peel!)

I missed being home, just hanging out with the family. But I didn't expect to miss Patrick so much! It was the longest I had been away from him and I was almost as excited to come home as I was to go to California!

School starts soon, so a change is on its way!

CAFE RIO!!!!!!!!!

So last Night we had Lance and Chelsea over for dinner. Love them, so Much fun! After dinner we played Phase 10 I was SO CLOSE to winning, but at least I am married to the winner! :)

I have been CRAVING Cafe Rio lately so I figured since I can't get it- I will make it.

So, I slow cooked the chicken, made the rice- I felt creative and MADE the tortillas- They were ok I didn't have a rolling pin... so I used a cup it worked but they were just a little thick! haha

We had the Chicken Salad, and I was pleasently surprised because it was SO GOOD!
The BEST part of it had to be the Cilantro Dressing. It Is Ahhh- mazing.
Seriously MAKE THIS!


Chicken

1 small bottle of zesty Italian dressing (about 8 0z.)
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
3 cloves of garlic ( I used 3 Tbs of Garlic powder)
5 lbs of chicken

Put everything in a crock pot and cook on high for about 4 hours. shred chicken and then let it cook for another 45min-1hr.

Green Chile Rice
1 cup rice
2 cups chicken broth (I didn't have this- but it still turned out great!)
4 oz. green chiles
1 sm. onion, diced
1/3 cup fresh cilantro
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1-2 tsp. cumin
3 green onions.

Mix together and pour into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake in the oven for 1 hour or until rice is done at 350.

(We Didn't make the beans- I kind of forgot!)

Black Beans
1 Can black Beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/3 Cup tomato Juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ground cumin
2 T olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 T fresh chopped cilantro

In a nonstick skillet, cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it.

Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Continually stir until heated through. Just before serving stir in cilantro


Cilantro Salad Dressing

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (dry mix)
1 cup buttermilk
1/2- 1/3 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1/2 - 1 small jalapeno (remove seed)
1 cup mayo
1 tsp. lime juice
1-2 tomatillos (remove outer papery skin)
1 garlic clove

Blend all ingredients in blender!


To make Salad:
LayerA tortilla with melted cheese on top
chicken
rice
dressing
beans
salad
greens (romaine lettuce)
pico de gallo (tomato, onino, cilantro, garlic, and jalepenos)
parmesan cheese
and
cilantro (for garnish)


We didn't add the pico De Gallo- I'm sure it would have been really good -I forgot!!! But All in All this was a GREAT dinner!!! You should Definentally try it!

OUR NEW HOME!

We are FINALLY in our new place!!!!

Patrick and I moved into our new apartment about a month ago. It is absolutely wonderful having a place of our own! Our place is perfect for us. it is like a town home apartment. The downstairs has the kitchen and living room and upstairs the bathroom and bedroom.

We bought a NEW BED!!!!!! I don't think I have ever slept this good in my LIFE!!! We got a Simmons Beauty Mattress, and all I have to say is that it is WORTH the money. But other than the bed being absolutely the most comfy bed ever. Is our Bedding- it comes in second!

We got down pillows and a blanket with a Dovet cover- Love love LOVE the duvte cover!!! We honestly didn't know what it was when we first got it, (you put it over the down comforter- who knew)

We got a new TV, couch and chairs. Coffee table and end tables, but we did it all way cheap, let me tell ya' IKEA is our friend!

I love coming home to my own place! I love cooking in my Kitchen! And baking in my oven, and my new toaster oven. and making cookies, and dinner, and CLEANING my own house!

I still HATE the laundry!!!! I will put it off until I do not have any clean clothes left!

So life has been good! We are still getting used to having our own space, It is really nice to come home and BE home.

But speaking of Home, I am going to California next week to see my family. Patrick can't come because of work, so I will be flying solo. This is one of the last times my family is ALL going to be together. Michael and Thomas are going back to BYU, Kim will be there in the Winter, Thomas leaves for his mission in a year... So for a while this is gonna be the last time we are ALL going to be together, and I miss my family. I am still getting used to the idea that I can't just go home, It's not my home anymore. Texas is, Patrick is. So I am very excited to go home and see them, and to go to the beach, and SURF, and TAN!!!!

Patrick and I start school in a couple of weeks, He is taking English classes and I am taking Anatomy and Phisiology, this should be fun/ interesting!

Patrick is MY Edward

SO Patrick and I have finally figured out what the next couple of years are going to look like. It has been a couple of eventful weeks for us here.

Patrick got a job! He is a regional Teller for Texans Credit Union. He is still training right now, but soon he will be traveling to all the different locations and filling in whenever anyone is on vacation or out for a sick day. He is the big provider now! I think he really likes it. We were about to go insane without having jobs. Patrick did much better than me. But thankfully I got one and I have been having a BLAST working in the office of Berret Pest Control WooHOO!

So now since we both have jobs, we decided that the hotel we got for our birthday was just too nice. It was wonderful to have your own space. So we kind of decided to rethink our strategy. We were planning to wait till the end of the year save up some money and buy our own house. But as we thought about it we will only be here for 3 years, then Patrick will be off to Law school. We will not be staying in Dallas for that so there really is not point in buying a place.

So....... In one week we are finally moving into our own place!!!! We have already got a nice leather couch- craigslist, and kitchen table-garage sale. We move in on the 17th and finally get to open all of our Wedding Presents! It will be like Christmas all over again.

Yesterday we went to the college here and figured out our schedules for school. Patrick will be taking as many generals while still working full time. I will be taking anatomy and physiology. Hopefully I will get into their nursing program next year and get my RN. Patrick will do what he can at Quad C then transfer to UTD and major in business and finance.

I really like it here in Texas- although the yo-yo weather is kinda hard to get used to. Its 80 one day then rainy and 40 the next. But i guess I need to enjoy it while I can, because when the summer comes it gets hot, and stays hot!!
Oh I want California back!!!

.....................................................................................................................................................................

Fun Stuff
A couple of weekends ago we went to see the Mustangs at Las Colinas- they are statues that try to capture the free spirit of the Mustangs- it was really cool. They look like they are running through the water. they are life like horses and very anatomically correct. Which I thought was kinda funny. :)



Patrick and me at the Mustangs.

Our Birthday cake compliments to Chef Cindy

Well, so thats what we have been up to for the past couple of weeks. now we are just getting things ready to move into our own place. This Friday! YAY!

Patrick is at a Mavricks game RIGHT NOW and I'm sure is having a time of his life!

And I will settle down to read a book- ok I confess I started the Twilight series again. I started reading it because I found Twilight and New Moon online. I can read books online during my free time at work cuz then no one KNOW S that I am not working :) Just kidding but kinda serious... we have a lot of down time- well we did winter is not too busy for Pest control- it is starting to pick up again. But so I started the Twilight Series again. And I am on the last book again now. IIt is kind of funny, I used to read books to escape my life- my ordinary mundane life- devoid of any thrilling experiences. But now it is different especially when I read love stories like Twilight- because now I am in love, I understand on a different level. I am not longing to find love. The love I read about in books. I have my own- and although this sounds INCREDIBLY corny- Patrick is my Edward. He is everything that I couldever imagine wanting and more. I never thought that I could love someone as much as I love him. I can look into the future and although I don't know what it will hold for me, I am not afraid of it anymore. Because I know Patrick will always be there for me- forever- for eternity! It is a wonderful feeling!!

AWWW I WANT ONE!!!

So when we went to the Puppy store last Saturday we saw a puppy that melted our hearts. It was the cutest little Cavalier King Charles. We instantly fell in love with the puppy, but not the price-it was reduced from 1,200 to 900 which is a good price i guess if you have money. but his got us thinking and we have been checking around for other breeders that sell them for cheaper.
Also I absolutely loved the alone time we spent in the hotel. It made me want our own place so badly. It has been wonderful living with Patrick's parents, but it kind of seems like we aren't really on our own... ya know? We were going to hold out to get our own place till we can afford it, but when we though about it. we are only going to be here for 3 years. and we aren't sure if we want to BUY a place and be financially tied here. So we got to looking for apartments. We had looked before but nothing was opening up for months. I called this one place to see if they had an opening and amazingly they did! We went to go see it and fell in love with it at once. it is a town home apartment. About 900 square feet a living room and kitchen downstairs, and a bedroom and bath upstairs. We loved it so we put the money down to save our spot and we are moving in on April 17th!!! On Saturday we went garage sale-ing to find furniture for the apartment, and got a little round dining room table and four chairs for $30- Patrick has a way with people! Now we are just searching for things to fill the apartment with. And after sleeping in that AMAZING bed at the resort,well... we are gonna get one of our own. The bed and the TV are what we are going to shell out the money for!

BirthMONTH!!!!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Ok so one of the coolest things (among many) about Patrick and Me is that we have the same BIRTHDAY. He is two years older than me exactly. So for me birthdays are like a big deal. Well at least for me they are. I like to make a production out of it. It is not a BirthDAY, it is a BirthMONTH!! SO since we have the same birthday we aren't able to celebrate to the fuillest for just one person, so we have decided to only celebrate ONE person's perthday a year. I got this year, and Patrick will have his next year. So Patrick planned the whole birthday with stuff that I would like to do. I had no idea what we were doing until the day of.
So our Birthday was March 10th, and I decided I would take Friday off to give us a whole weekend of celebration. Friday Patrick and I were kind of sick so we slept. Yes, It was a perfect day off. Full of wonderful dreams. You don't really appreciate sleeping in until you can't do it everyday.It was wonderful. Then we went out with the whole family to Macaroni Grill, it was fun and yummy! Then Patrick whisked me away to give me my suprise.
We ended up going to the Westin Resort here in Plano, and we just got to be alone. We watched movies ate chocolate and slept in the most comfortable bed ever. Patrick made sure that the room came with a bath tub. He brought lavender bath salts and I got to enjoy a nice hot bath. I love baths, they are so relaxing, and we don't have one inthe room we are staying in. The next day we slept in, then we went to a puppy store and played with puppies. then here comes the best part. We got Couple's Masages.It was AMAZING. I have never had a masage before and it was absolutely amazing.
It was the best birthday ever!! I got to spend it with my best friend that I get to be with FOREVER!! I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Jobs,Cars, Campouts, Bowling, and Movies

Well, the past two weeks have been very eventful. I got a JOB! I am working at Berrett Pest Control. I am in the office making calls and helping the Techs. With their routes and keeping them busy. I was a little scared the first day. I didn't really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. I love the people there, and now that I know how to do the job, it has been so nice. I love doing something. I complain of course that I have to wake up at 7 am. And I usually take a nap in my car during lunch. But I do love staying busy. It is a lot of fun and I think I will really like this job. One thing that I have LOVED these past two weeks is that Patrick still is interviewing for jobs (I think he will get one this week- we can hope- it looks promising!) So he wakes up when I do, and makes me a lunch. He usually makes me a sandwich and packs me snacks! It is so nice, I really love it. He always makes it with love, yes I know how incredibly dorky that sounds but it is TRUE!

So Patrick and I joined 24 Hour Fitness. He has put up with my insistent whining, and has I have been at work all day, and all I wanna do is lie down and cuddle. But he won't have any of that. So he uses his reverse psychology, and just makes fun of me until I finally decide to get up and get dresses. But I have to confess I have loved working out, and after 2 weeks have already seen amazing results. It is really nice. I do cardio- running, bike and then stair steppers. Let me tell you ladies- in 2 weeks I have seen so much progress, and I credit it all to the stair steppers they kick butt (literally). It has been really great to get off of work and go straight to the gym. You kinda forget that you have been sitting at a desk all day long.

So in the course of Patrick and I dating, coupled with not having a job for a while, I managed to gain some weight. SO instead of going on a crash diet I have decided to just start to eat better. I have cut out almost all sugar from my diet, except on Sundays- that’s my day off- my reward day. It actually isn't that hard. I meant the first week is hard but once you get over the “addiction” it isn’t too bad. I have found that my saving grace is the sugar free JELLO Pudding packs. 60 calories of heavenly goodness. I eat pretzels, low fat cheese-its, 100 calorie cookie snack packs, and then just do portion control, plus working out- I haven’t dropped the lbs fast but I can see a difference- an I can feel a difference. So yeah a lifestyle change- it’s good.

So anyway other than work and working out (I still define that as work because I have no choice in it!) We have done a lot of stuff

We went camping with the Scouts. We brought my Jeep and got a blow up mattress and slept in the car. Surprisingly cars are NOT insulated. It was COLD! We didn’t bring sleeping bag which added to loosing heat, and it was one of those random winter nights in Texas where it gets below freezing. The worst part of it was that I had to go to the bathroom 4 times that night. And this was like in the wilderness camping- no toilets. Let’s just say it was very interesting! Haha

The nest night we went to the Plano Football Banquet to help a friend with the photography. If you don’t know Texas Football- you don’t know football. It is a BIG deal out here!! The banquet lasted 7 and a HALF hours!! It was fun?

The other weekend we went to the Dallas Auto Show- I was like 'yay' cars- who cares. Ok once you get in there it is like women in a diamond shop. These cars are just as shiny, just as glamorous, and just as expensive as some of the most beautiful jewelry in the world. These cars were nice. I have decided that if I got a million dollars I would get the new Shelby Mustang with the entire tricked out engine thingies haha I just wanted to sound like a girl there. Oh they are so nice. But the best car had to have been the Lamborghini Murcialago- it was beautiful. Imagine seeing like the hottest guy ever or the most beautiful jewelry ever- yeah it’s kind of like that! Haha you just have to go sometime. You will understand. Well maybe if you are a boy you would get it. I was reminded on the camp out by a boy scout that “I have the shape of a woman, but I like things that boys like.” It’s true. Oooh but some cars are just so pretty!!!

Yesterday we went bowling with some friends for a birthday party. Patrick and I bowled as one person we bowled a 59 yeah it was pretty bad!! Afterwards we went to see Taken, it was a very good movie, and the reason my Dad would never let us leave the house! No seriously it was a really good movie, but kind of scary because it does happen. Warnings to all stupid girls- don’t be stupid!!

So this is an update on the past two weeks! It has been a very fun, exciting, busy, wonderful week! I love being married, and getting to see Patrick every day. It’s a little hard to wrap my mind around the idea that I am a wife, and I have a husband. But I love it! It is a new adventure everyday! If you have any suggestion to a newlywed wife I would LOVE them!!!

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day

I hope your day was full of love and happiness. Ours was. We went to the Steak House "SaltGrass" to eat steak and then came home and watched Wall-E! I love that movie. It was one of the movies that Patrick and I saw before we were dating. You know the whole time how Wall-E wants to hold EVE's hand- well Patrick felt the same the whole movie. But now he can hold my hand- whenever he wants!
Oh I went Blond- well I am on my way to blondness again. I went to the Paul Mitchell School, where the students do your hair. lets just say i was sitting in a chair over 2 days for 8 hours total!!!! But im ok with it because after all it is MUCH cheaper to get it done there than professionally, I guess you just make up the difference with the time you spend!
So I start work tomorrow!!! I am working for Barret Pest Control- you know those summer jobs that they recuit for at BYU, well I am going to work in the office taking care of a the routes and calling customers. It isn't my ideal job but I hope it will be fun!!! And it will keep me busy!
Whish me luck!

Midnight Treat recipe

Shortbread cookies
These are the shortbread thumbprint cookies Patrick made.. he left out the almond extract and used vanilla instead. Follow the link it will make for a good treat!!!

God's Country

Greetings from "God's Country"

Funny story, while sitting in church everyone was talking about how beautiful "God's Country" is and how much they love living in it. It took me a minute to remember that I am in Texas. EVERYTHING is Bigger and Better in Texas. And EVERYONE will tell you that!

Patrick and I have been trying to stay busy while we are still looking for jobs, at times it gets a little frustrating. Getting a job should not be this hard... right. So we have been watching movies, and LOST and reading books. Patrick likes the historical kind of books, me I'd rather read Harry Potter or Twilight(which- be proud of me I have NOT seen the movie yet) But I started the book Kingdom and the Crown it is set in the time and Life of Christ, and it is quite a good read. It mingles facts with fiction to bring about a very interesting and entertaining story. kinda like the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites by Chris Heimerdinger. Ok I LOVE these books, but it has taken him forever and a day to write the next book in the series there are 10 out I think, and it has taken like 4 years to get the next book out. But we all know that I will still read it as soon as it comes out and most likely will re-read the other books.
I am planning a coup- Patrick WILL read the Harry Potter books- even if I have to read them out loud to him!

Ok anyway tangent over. Patrick and I went to the Dallas Temple this week and it was a lot of fun. It is always amazing the spirit that you feel at the temple.

Me and Patrick at the temple

The High Five.
So a couple of years ago I watched a Modern Marvels with my Dad and they were talking all about the High Five it is a Five Level Interchange. It is HUGE. If you are on the highest interchange you are taller than almost all the buildings- about at the same level as a ten story building. It is amazing how traffic kind of just flows right through it, without any slowing at all.
EWWIE EWWIE!!!! "Little Lewis" aka. Lewis Goodrum came home this week. Patrick's "band of brothers" are almost all home from the mission- soon they will unite and terrorize the world. :)
Patrick had an awesome group of guys to hang out with when he was growing up, Lewis and his brother Alex have almost officially adopted Patrick into their family. They swear they have fed him enough meals they claim him as a child! Lewis just got of his mission in Hondouras, and will be here until April when he goes back to BYU! YAY Patrick has his friend back!!!

Dallas Temple

Hey you're not Smiling!!!

Ok thats better- now if you could just look at the camera!

So i realized that we never got a picture of our rings. Patrick bought me mine- we actualoly went to the ring store and I picked out ones that I liked to give him an idea. He got the one that I loved the most!
Now Patrick's ring is a little different. If you look closely there are two diamonds set in the star of David. This ring belonged to his great-great-grandmother. She believedthat she was a Jew- we still haven't found any proof yet that she was. Women's rings back then were just the band- and surprizingly it fit Patrik just perfectly. Patrick was studying Middle Eastern Studies when I met him, but after we looked into it more we saw that that kind of work would not be ideal to raise a family in.

So we have been trying to decide our next move, adn I think we have got a plan. Patrick will go to the community college here and transfer to UTD and get a business degree, then we will go on to Law school- a choice that is very fitting for him. I am going to try to get into nursing school to become an RN. That way while he is in Law School I can work, I think it is sokmething that I will like too. But we still have quite a while- and plans change. But for now, that is where we are headed. Each day is a new adventure, but it is much easier when you can go through it with your best friend!!

Midnight Treat

OK So we seriously have our mornings and nights flip flopped. we sleep until like 12 and go to bed around 3 in the morning. Still no luck with the jobs yet, but we feel like something is on the horizon. We are signed up with a Temp. agency and it looks like we will find something better with them then we could on our own. so hopefully we will be working soon. So in the mean time we have found ways to fill our time. One night Patrick left the room and I hears clanking of pots and pans, but ignored it. an hour later he walks in with is WONDERFUL MIDNIGHT TREAT!They were goooooood!!!

Staying Busy...

On the way to Texas we drove through Spanish Fork Canyon, right during sunset. The mountains were beautiful. And yes, I was driving while I took these!


We took it slow and it took us 2 days to get t Texas, but we made it alive. Patrick and I drove in seperate cars, and that was the longest i've every drove in my life- 24 hours!










Looking for jobs has kept us in a little bit of a lull, but we are finding ways to stay busy! I figured since all of the wedding presents really are toys for me in the kitchen, he should get a toy too… so we got him a drill. As soon as we got the drill, he came home, charged it, and then walked around the house with that drill and nothing withstood him, door knobs or loose deck boards! When he is in the fixing mood, he gets on a roll. He completely moved everything out of the room we are staying in, and we did some deep cleaning (and I have to admit, I actually enjoyed myself- weird I know cleaning.) He then went on to tackle the bathroom- he ripped out the carpet, put in tile, and replaced the toilet!

That's my man!

Yay we're married!!

Patrick and I were married on December 20^th 2008 in the San Diego Temple. It was the best day of my life. I got to marry my best friend, and I get to be with him forever! It was wonderful to be with my whole family, new and old. It was the perfect wedding, nothing too over the top, just kind of a celebration. Very simple and straight to the point- “Mawwage, mawwaige is what bwings us togedder today!”

We had the reception at a little reception hall and my Mom and I planned the whole thing, and my mom and family are just now recovering from it all!!! I worked as a wedding coordinator for my last job so I pretty much know the ropes of it all! We made our own cake- and it tasted better than any wedding cake I have ever had (Thanks Katie for the recipe!)

This is our home made wedding cake! half triple chocolate, and half funfetti cake- yeah you can tell who decided the flavors huh? I'm the chocolate- Patrick is the Funfetti!!!

This is the reception hall we had it at. It was actually just a community rec center that we decorated. it turned out perfect!

Lydiksen Family! Oh what a happy bunch!

Hinckley parents Cindy and Kevin!

Brides maids- Tamsyn, Kimmy, Maria, and Lauren

Sister LOVE!!!!

For our honeymoon we stayed in the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego which I highly recommend. Then we went on a cruise, and let me just say that if you have never been on a cruise before DON’T do it for your honeymoon. Let’s just say Patrick and I got very sea sick! After the cruise we drove both of our cars down to Texas and we have been recuperating and looking for jobs ever since. I never realized how hard, and long it took to get a job, but it really has hit me lately. Every day we submit more and more resumes but nothing yet. But we have been keeping busy!