Our Small Christmas

I was looking at our small little Christmas tree in the corner. I think it's 3 1/2 feet tall. With all the craziness that's been going on lately I realized how glad I am to be having a small Christmas this year. All the awkward and painful situations that I've been through or watched my loved ones go through this last year seem less horrible knowing what Christ went through and what we're celebrating.

So I love our little Christmas tree and our little presents we had to get creative about because in the end it's spending this time with family and not spending money on things that will be broken in a year.

College Graduate!

That's right! I'm completely done with college...unless I decide to go back some day to graduate school. I took my last final Thursday night and just about skipped back to my car when I was done. The U only does one graduation ceremony a year though, so I'm not sure if I have to wait until them to get my diploma. That would seem silly though. I graduated with a bachelor's in Sociology a minor in psychology and got a criminology certificate along the way. I keep feeling like I should be doing homework; it's weird actually having free time! Now we just need to get Chris back in school....and figure out what he wants to do. :)

Life

Things are so crazy right now! By 3:00 pm tomorrow I will be down to two classes (from my seven that I took). Sometimes I think I was stupid to take so many classes, but being done earlier is making up for it. Also the fact that I'm going to miss the tuition hike next semester is nice too.

I just turned in the keys to our old apartment yesterday. It's so weird not living in the student housing village any more! I'm going to miss some of the people but definitely not the apartment. At least we got a "When we were first married" story to tell our future kids. Speaking of kids, Tiffany and Mark I am so excited for you! I know I've known for about a month that you're finally adopting an amazing little girl but it still makes me so happy!

We're slowly getting our new place put in order. I'll post pictures after I get it all how we want it. I'm going to paint one of the bathrooms too, so I'm excited to have a project. It will be easier once I'm done with school and not making a 45 minute commute both ways six days a week. I feel bad for Chris though who will be doing the commute for a long time unless he can find a new job closer to home. It's just his luck that when we lived in the village he originally had a job way out by where we live now. And now that we've moved he has a job way up by the village. I really appreciate all the hard work he does for our little family. He's such a great husband and I can't figure out why I deserve to have him in my life some times.

I'm so excited for Christmas to come! We're having a poor-man's Christmas which I absolutely love! I'm tired of all this stuff that we're "supposed" to have. I'd much rather do things with family. In spite of that I still need to figure out something to get for Chris. He's always buying me little presents and being cute like that so I need to do something for him. Now if I can just figure out what.

My bosses at the library gave me a job proposition. I've already agreed to transfer out to my other job though. I think I'm going to stick with Jamba even though I don't like it there. It's going to be more stable long-term than the library. I just hate that the library is so far away because I love working there. It's probably my favorite job I've ever had. Such is life though.

Halloween Half

I ran my first ever half marathon on Halloween! I think I must have been crazy, but I did it. I probably looked crazy too since I was dressed up like Optimus Prime. The last 3-4 miles I wanted to rip my feet off but I made it in the end. Actually, I think if I'd known how far I was I would have given up. At the start of the race it was 29 degrees. It's a good thing Chris is amazing and got me some gloves the night before because I didn't even think about it. They started us an hour late but I still managed to have about the same end time I was hoping for. I finished in 3 hours 40ish minutes, I'm not sure of the exact time because I was about ready to pass out by the time I trudged across the finish line. I'm so proud of myself! This is by far one of my biggest achievements so far in my life. Especially since before the actual marathon I'd only managed to run 6 miles in a little under 2 hours. Now I'm just trying to hobble around on legs that feel like they're filled with cement. I'll be back to normal in a few days...I hope.

The Best Two Years :)

Our 2nd anniversary was on Tuesday. I don't feel old enough to have been married for two years! We didn't do anything too exciting and I didn't take any pictures unfortunately. We went to breakfast and ate pumpkin pancakes which were pretty fantastic. Then we ran around for a while doing nothing in particular and had a late lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. Neither of us had ever been before so it was nice to do something new. We had a random stop trying to find a cheap fridge (if anyone knows of one let us know!). We finished off the evening by playing pool at a bowling ally and then buying a new board game and wii fit plus to play - we decided to just pick a few small gifts out together rather than worrying about actually buying each other something. The best part is that none of this cost us anything. Thank you Verizon wireless rebates!

On Wednesday we went and turned in some more papers for our place we're buying. After that we spent most of the afternoon hanging around out there getting more acquainted with the city. And best of all, Chris took me to a pumpkin patch so I could pick out my pumpkin even though he didn't want to go. That's true love right there! He ended up getting four pumpkins though to create a "pumpkin man" so I don't think he minded much. I love Halloween! I love Chris more though. I wish I was creative like him.

My not doing homework update

Life hasn't changed much lately but it has been so long since I've posted anything on here I figure I'll do it for fun.

I've been making a new friend for the first time in years and it's awesome! She's one of those super cute girls that you want to hate because they seem too gorgeous but then you get to know them and they're the nicest person you've ever met and can't help but love them. :) Her husband isn't a member and mine works every Sunday, so it's really nice to have someone to talk to and sit by. Everyone stays so paired off in our ward; it gets really lonely.

I'm in my last semester of school (yay me!!!) taking a whopping 20 credit hours. Me and my color-coded planner will get through it somehow. I really just want to be done so I can take a break! I've also been applying for some full-time campus positions so hopefully I can beat the explosion of applications towards the end of the year.

We should hopefully be finding out about the nicer condo we put an offer in on in a few days. I really hope we get it! I'm completely fed up with student housing. People stealing our laundry and then getting a parking ticket for an "improperly placed" parking permit were the last straw. One way or another we're out of there.

Chris has just been working a ton with his promotion so I don't have much of an update on him. He's amazing as always though. He surprised me with homemade pizza dough the other night. He wouldn't let me help at all. It's fun watching how excited he gets when he has little surprises for me. Our 2nd anniversary is in a few weeks and I can't believe it. This last year has blown by!

Jed and Breann

I thought I'd do an in-depth update for the two people who read my blog about Jed and Breann. I think some of you have heard a bit about what they've been going through. Sorry if I get any of the information wrong.

Around 3:00 am the first time (I forget what day...Wednesday possibly) Breann got up to make the twins some bottles. She was out in the kitchen and heard a noise so she turned on a light and saw someone sticking a slimjim through their front door trying to get in. When she turned on the light though it scared the person and they ran off. They called the police who came and checked it out.

Later that day Breann got home sometime between 5:00 and 6:30 and found their apartment completely ripped apart. The person had thrown laundry everywhere, pulled stuff out of cupboards, etc. But they didn't take anything. I guess they had an envelope with some money in it and they didn't even take that. I heard from Annie that they think there might have been some blood on the front door. Once again the police came and checked everything out. After that they boxed anything up that had any value and put it in Jed's truck and they put in a deadbolt on the door.

On Thursday around 2:00 pm Annie called Breann since we'd forgot to earlier. Annie relayed to me and my mom that Breann was with the police and that someone had tried to take the twins. Mom and I got over to their apartment as fast as possible. Jed had come home for his lunch break and then a bit later Breann had decided to go to the store so she was in the back of their apartment drying her hair so she didn't know how long the guy had been in there before he came back for her. The man was wearing gloves and a ski mask so all she could see was his blue eyes. He shoved her into one of the bedrooms and told her if she came out he was going to take the babies, I don't know what room they were in. In the bedroom she called Jed and then the police. The man once again ripped the entire apartment a part doing even more damage this time. From how I understood it when he was done he picked the boys up and took them in to Breann (but I could be wrong). The police showed up before Breann was even off the phone with dispatch. They brought the canine unit with them this time and patrolled the nearby streets and the complex. The dogs went crazy in the complex so the police are assuming it's either someone Jed and Breann know or someone that lives in the complex and waits for them to be in vulnerable positions.

After they got their place cleaned up for the second time we packed up some of their things and moved them to my parents' house for a while. Later that night the guys put in new locks/re-keyed. As far as I know they are still at my parents' and there hasn't been another break in at their apartment.

That's as far as I know right now. Keep them in your prayers for us. And I'll update again when I know more.

I thought I'd do a quick update while I'm sitting at work.

Chris got promoted to 2nd assistant at his work. He seems happier now that he has more authority and can start helping the store fix problems he's seen. The fact that he's getting more hours and a raise is just an added bonus. Though it couldn't have come at a better time.

After a few months of looking we have put an offer in on a condo. We're still waiting to hear back about it, but we're fairly sure they're accepting our offer. The realtor emailed Chris a copy of the offer they drew up and all of the places for the seller to sign were signed and checked off. The place reeks like cats though, so in the event that we get it we'll have to re-carpet and paint. We've been having fun picking out paint. I've placed myself in charge of decorating the bathroom.

Chris and I got released as the move-in/move-out coordinators for the ward. I'm pretty sure it's because I missed so many consecutive weeks of church. :( I got called as the relief society chorister though, so I'm down with that. It's a little less time consuming, which is great since I've got two jobs and school. Before I was doing our calling for Chris and me since he works every Sunday.

After I got released from physical therapy I've been so excited to have properly working knees I decided to celebrate and I registered for my first half marathon. Hopefully I don't die in the process, but so far so good.

I taught my parents how to use Facebook the other day. They're growing up so fast! I think they'll learn to like it since they can see pictures of everyone that they don't see very often.

Besides that, as always, I'm just in school and getting ready for finals week. One more year and I'm done!

We spent part of our red, white, and blue weekend with the boys in blue. That's right! We almost were the next victims of grand-theft auto! We think they backed the jeep up and then discovered it doesn't turn and put it back. They took the stereo and then decided to celebrate by hacking at the steering column with screwdrivers. They found two discarded screwdrivers in the front of the car. The one in the driver's side was bent at a 90 degree angle because they were hacking so hard. The detective fingerprinted the column. They said this is the best chance for fingerprints they've had so far in the string of robberies. I sure hope they catch whoever did this. We're probably just going to have to junk the jeep now.

Skittles.

Chris and I have a new member of our family. Her name is Skittles! The lady we bought her from was calling her Princess and we pretended like that was cute until we left and came up with a new name. She's a Malchi, which I'd never heard of. We're just glad she doesn't look like a chihuahua. We're hoping she'll get bigger than Chris' foot.

We have since gotten her real food dishes.

She loves chasing Chris' toes. So cute.

Pretty much the softest puppy bed ever.

Chris is 25!

I threw Chris a surprise birthday party/bbq for his big 2-5! Too bad we were all late and his friends were on time. Sorry guys! I actually managed to keep it a surprise though. I'm so proud of myself, I can't seem to keep anything from Chris. Being married seems to do that to a person.

Bronson decided to help blow out the candles.

My super awesome Transformer's cake!

Mom and Dad gettin' in on the fun.

The cone hats were a wise choice.

Double hats are the coolest.

Chris and his buds.

Attack of the toilet tank ...and other exciting stories.

On the 17th between midnight and 2:30 am our toilet tank split right up the center and flooded the bathroom and hallway. Thankfully Chris got up around 2:30 to go to the bathroom, unfortunately he was bare-footed and walked out into the mess. He got it cleaned up and the leak stopped by the time I woke up at 3:00. I went back to bed around 7:00 when Chris left for work (I hate that he has to work practically every Sunday!). I woke up again around 10:30 and was about to hurry and get ready for church when I discovered that the apartment had flooded again...and it was still going strong. There was about half an inch of water under the toilet. The upstairs neighbor and I got it to stop leaking again and I called emergency maintenance. He sounded really annoyed that I had called him. He showed up eventually (I missed church. Sad day) and said "Well, here's your problem! The tank is cracked." I managed to keep my sarcastic remarks to myself. He then said he couldn't do anything and left. A nicer lady came on Monday and put in a nice, new, water-efficient toilet. It's awesome.

Chris is moving up in the working world. He took his last test as a manager-trainee a little while ago. Big 5 has been having him be an acting manager quite a lot and we're hoping it'll turn into a more permanent position. He has been putting in applications to find a different job, however. I applied for a job in another library on campus that I'm waiting to hear back on. It's full time so I'd get half tuition, plus benefits, and not to mention be making a lot more per check. Keep us in your prayers!

I'm doing summer semester. I'm only taking six credit hours though. One of my classes is an upper division class mashed into ten classes and a test, so I'm crazy busy with all the reading and assignments. When I pass it (how's that for positive thinking?) I'll never have to take another math class again! Yay! So needless to say I'll be pretty much dead to the world for the next month.

My physical therapy is going well. I'm down to only having to go once a week now and I've stopped rolling my feet as much. I'm basically having to re-learn how to walk, so if you see me walking around looking really focused and moving weird just ignore me. hehe.

It was Grandma Bowen's 85th birthday a few days ago. She is the sweetest lady! I don't know her very well, but I'm glad I get to know her at all. I hope I'll be a cute old lady that can make killer scones from scratch like her someday.

Chris is training for a bike marathon/fundraiser. The fundraiser is to help find a cure for diabetes. I'm not quite sure how long it is, just that I would die if I tried to do it. He's such a motivated, giving person. I wish I was more like him. I'm so blessed to have such a loving hubby!

We're getting ready to move in the next few months. We've had enough problems with things exploding in our apartment that we've had enough. Chris has been so motivated the last few days in dejunking. It's been awesome. He's even gone through cables and is getting rid of two keyboards. He's such a tech-packrat. lol. So if you come to our apartment, which is unlikely because we never have visitors since we're never home, don't be alarmed by the random piles of stuff.

I'll try to post again soon. If I don't it'll have to wait until I get through my class.

Passed!

I found out last night that I passed my stats class! I needed a C- to pass according to my department's requirements, so technically I exceeded expectations with my C! And now if I pass the math class I'm taking over the summer (I don't even know what it is :S ) I won't ever have to take another math class again! I've severely regretted going for a BS instead of a BA, but now I'm half way done with it so there's no looking back.

Various happenings.

Easter was a blast with my family this time around. Grandma and Grandpa Hodson were there as well. It was nice to spend some time with them. We had our customary 20 minute long search for the last missing egg and Annie found it! Normally we give up. Annie and I were a team: I was the arms and she was the legs. The girls and I also had a "who can get the biggest wad of gum in our mouth" contest. I was the winner. I'll have to post pictures later.

I'm heading into finals again. I've got my stats one tonight. It'll be nice to have the most stressful one out of the way first. If I can pass the class then it will waive the stats requirement for my minor (psychology, I just declared it). I was talking to my adviser and found out that while I only have four classes left to finish all the requirements for my major I still need 26 credit hours! What a joke! So I'm squeezing in a psych minor just for fun.

Annie managed to trip on flat ground and dislocate her shoulder a few weeks ago. I was the only emergency contact they could get a hold of. I'm glad I decided to answer my phone even though I was at work! Then exactly one week later Mom was taking the girls to school and they got rear-ended. I'm hoping we can all make it through a week without anything else exploding.

About three weeks ago I was at work (at the library) and my knee locked up and I had to pop it out. I finally made it to the doctor to find out that my knees are really inflamed and have fluid backing up in them. She referred me to a physical therapist and now I have to do physical therapy twice a week for a month, then hopefully if it gets better I can be moved down to once a week. The physical therapist thinks I have tendinitis going all down my left leg and in my knee in the right. I'm just hoping it starts going away soon. My manager at the library told me I'm not allowed to go on rounds anymore until she gets written consent from the doctors. Yeesh. At least this is making it so I'm getting all my homework done in advance since I can't move very well!

I also donated my hair to Locks of Love again. The lady cutting my hair decided to take it upon herself to cut another three inches off after she cut off the ponytail. So I'm trying to figure out what to do with short hair. After that I dyed it a dark purple-y red and I love it! This has inspired me to be more adventurous with my hair.

That's all the excitement in the Bowen world for now. I'll try to remember to upload pictures some day soon as well.

Jed loves Snuggies

My brother, Jed, saw an infomercial for Snuggies and has been ragging on them ever since.  So we all decided it would be an awesome idea to buy him one.  During the ordering process something got mixed up and Chris and I ended up with four!  Hot dang.  We've sure been having fun with them though.  Jed'll love us forever.

So old!

Turns 21 in exactly one month. Crazy cats! I need to renew my driver's license. Yuck!

Aunt Rosie's baptism.

What an awesome day! After a few years of serious thought, Aunt Rosie made the decision to get baptized. My dad got to have the honor of baptizing his little sister after being there for her through the whole process. And even though most of my dad's family isn't part of the church, those that could showed up to give her their support. I'm so happy we got to be there to share her special day with her and hopefully she will be able to find so much happiness in her new life.

Aunt Rosie and Dave afterwards.
Rosie and her kids (I think that's all of them).

My favorite picture. Dad and Rosie before the baptism.

Massive catch-up!

I've been so bad at uploading pictures. I always forget about it, then Chris has to do it for me because I can't remember how. So here's me catching up on happenings from December to now.

The Hodsons dropped in for a weekend visit and we had a blast. We all drove down to the hospital to see the babies. Thank goodness they're home now!

Chris is actually smiling like a normal person so I had to put it up!

I'm not sure which is which, they were under a jaundice light.

Christmas was way busy running back and forth between our families, but it was nice to spend so much time with everyone.

At Grandma and Grandpa Bill's.

Lynda taking picures.

Brent got a little too excited about his new drill.

Chris opening the camera that his super awesome wife saved up for.

My parents don't feed Becky enough.

We went on a weekend get-away for Lynda's (my mother-in-law) birthday to the Homested. As always it was an adventurous couple of days. We all went to Soldier Hollow (I think) to go sledding. Lynda and I ended up taking the little ones into the lodge though, they didn't enjoy it as much and they were freezing! A few of us stopped at this adorable little barn/quiling store. There were so many cute things in there. Besides that we spent most of the time hanging out at the cabin together.

The cabin.

Delynn and I love guitar hero!

Nicole in the tube before she started crying.

That's the edited version of Chris's and my life the last little while. It's been a great couple of months. :)