Married in the Winter-Birthday

21.  How does someone who doesn't drink or gamble celebrate their 21st birthday??  Well, alcohol and slot machines aren't the only new legal thing I have acquired as of February 9th, 2012.  I am now legally able to own and carry my very own hand gun.  We spent the day shopping online and in gun stores, however, we couldn't decide on one.  SoOo, until I decide which one, I will just have to play with my other birhday presents.

This was a recipe box my mom got me from william-sonoma.  I desperately needed one since all of my recipe cards were scattered EVERYWHERE.

My sweet husband got me this.  It was a steal on Amazon.  I will now have to read the textbook-manual to figure out how to use it.

Among these, I was given home decorations, a sweater knitting machine (also complicated), books, and the least of which, I got..........

 Meet my chickens. :-)

They'll stay inside with us until they are 8 weeks.  Then we'll put them in a coop.  They will give us eggs and hopefully, a little love.

Married in the Winter- New Years

We are stuck.  We are stuck in our married hermit life.. and we LOVE it!  We have hardly done anything exciting.  No vacations.  No special events.  Nothing really worth writing about if it weren't for holidays.

NEW YEARS
We spent New Years as part of the second of a new tradition: games with Karsten's family and friends, and fireworks on a random staircase off valley view.

As it was, we had bad luck and hit every red light on the way to Valley View and for some reason the radio didn't do a countdown so.. we missed New Years.  We at least pulled over and got our kiss and drank a little Martinellis before hitting up the fireworks.

I was also able to make my resolution:

-Less TV, more reading

-Work on year supply of food

-1 service project a month

-1 conference talk a week

-1 hour of indexing a week

-1 temple session a month

-Get CCW

-Learn how to quilt, knit sweaters, sew clothes

-Begin nursing program

Married in the Winter- Shows

Okay, Maybe we would be really stuck if it weren't for generous family members who take us to see shows with them too.

LION KING

Crazy costumes, excellent singing, barely fell asleep one time.  Success!

TRANSIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

Amazing.. the whole show is a must see.  

The violinist... wow.

The lights... induced seizures.  

The fire... practically felt the flames.

The box seats... felt like a VIP.

Watch this.. you can have the experience too.. from the poor quality of my digital camera. 

Meet Jack

I am a dog person.  I love big protective, loving dogs.  Having a big dog that you raised from a puppy is like the big burly friend you always wanted around.  They let you squeeze them like a teddy bear even though they can crush you or anyone around you like a bug.  To convince Karsten that our family could use one of these furry creatures was one of my greatest challenges yet.  However, after weeks of research and persuasion and my eyes locked on the perfect litter, my dear sweet husband caved to my Christmas request.  On December 17th, Karsten and I drove to Bakersfield, California up a canyon to a 20-acre horse ranch where a group of labrador retriever puppies were waiting for a home.

We picked him.

Jack is a sweet 11-week-old puppy.  He was the cuddler out of the litter and his favorite sibling was his one sister.  He takes naps like a baby and will sleep in the most awkward positions.  

He was potty trained in less than a week and learned how to sit and lay his first full day with us.  He has not only grown accustomed to living with our little family but has become a part of it.

Karsten can't wait until he comes a big hunting dog so he can take him out on trips.  I can wait for that day.  Even though I love big dogs, you can't really beat when that little face looks up at you then falls asleep in your arms.

Married at Christmas

Christmas is just one of those holidays that is just as good a month or two before the actual day. I am one of those early Christmas people.  Karsten tried to keep me from watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas songs until after Thanksgiving.  Poor guy.  The songs and movies came on early November however, the activities didn't begin until Karsten was ready for them.  I found that to be a good compromise.

We kicked off the holidays with building gingerbread houses.

Karsten and I are particularly proud of our garage, porch, and garden in the back.  We don't mess around.

On another lovely December weekend, we decided to drive up to Cedar City, Utah and get our Christmas tree the old fashion way.  Bundled up with an ax in our hands, we trudged the deep Utah snow in hopes for the perfect Christmas tree. Once my toes, hands, nose, cheeks, and ears were sufficiently numb we began to walk back to the car empty handed.  I turned and looked at Karsten and said that we came here for a tree and we weren't leaving without a tree.  So, on the way back Karsten picked out the most descent-looking tree we could find.  I was a little skeptical at  first, but it turned out to be pretty great!

In keeping with my new found desire to make everything myself, I decided to proceed with Christmas decorations.  I was planning on making our Christmas stockings this year.  Karsten having grown up with a specific stocking insisted on them being knitted.  So.. I went to JoAnn's and hit up YouTube.

The red one is Karsten's and the unfinished green one is mine.

And now, the countdown is on.  Christmas is coming and we can't wait!

Married in the Fall

I had always thought that you shouldn't get married while you're still in school because it would make things a lot more complex and school work would get harder.  This theory was completely wrong.  Now that I'm married, I don't worry about wanting to go out to be with Karsten, or worry about the pressures of dating.  I can come home and know Karsten is coming home too.  We can relax and do our homework together on our couch.  Things were so easy, that I started up a few more hobbies.  My new idol, Martha Stewart, helped me out with all of this.

I started getting really into cooking and baking.  I know how Susie homemaker this sounds, but I found it super full-filling to make everything myself.  I learned how to make my own bread, pasta, and other stuff from scratch.  It was not only better tasting, but tons cheaper and what doesn't appeal more to a poor, newly married couple than saving a few dollars.

When the temperature cooled down (just a little.. this is still Vegas), I began decorating for one of my favorite holidays: Halloween.  We decided that something fun we were going to try and make annual was a murder mystery party.  After scoping out a few sites, we found the perfect themed party:  the Deadwood Saloon.

Karsten made the bar by cutting a giant cord spindle he found for free on craigslist.

My masterpiece is the tumbleweed chandelier.. Martha taught me that one!

Shout out to all our friends and family who came and made this night a blast!

Halloween day was also eventful.  We also had a dress up day at work and I came as one of the attorneys.  My little nephews always love dressing up!

Thanksgiving was just as fun a creative.  I cracked open my new Martha Stewart Baking book and learned how to make pie crust from scratch.  There was one test dough that was immediately thrown out, but otherwise, it was easy, fun, and successful. 

I borrowed my mom's leaf pie-cutters to make the crusts of my pumpkin pie and the top of my apple pie.

November was also filled with weddings, shopping, and waiting for the next awesome season!

Post- Wedding

I feel like people have been hiding how fun marriage is from me.  It is awesome!  No comments from you older married cynical couples, please.  After our wedding, we had some of the most fun months we've ever had.
Of course for the first little while, there was business to take care of.  I ran errands to the Social Security office, the DMV, and the post office for all of my marital name changes.  I went right when all of them opened and was in and out within minutes.  Easy-peasy.  We also had to finish moving in to our temporary home.  We have been looking for a house of our own to buy, but have had the worst luck in the world.  we'll work it out, though.

These were our helpful movers.

After we got settled into our home, I got around to making our wedding and honeymoon photo books.  I found this much easier than scrapbooking (thank you Costco!)

Then we began buying furniture.  First we decided on a couch.

Then a dining set.

Before we knew it our house was a home and we began to play.  

For Karsten's birthday, I bought him his first hand-gun.

Then we went on the annual Lake Powell trip before school started.  Karsten's first time!!

Even though we got pretty busy with school, we still went on dates.

We went on hikes at red rock.

We had a nerf gun war.

  And went bunny hunting.

 Of course we know rough and scary times are ahead.  However, with how good things are going now, we say, "Bring it on!"