Yes it's time again for another halo video. YAY! Here it is: Special Delivery
1 day ago
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Map of our Trip
As promised, here's a map of our trip. It turned out pretty small on here, but I think if you double click on it, it might get bigger. Between those six trips, I spent 102 hours on the road (not counting around town stuff), Will spent 96 hours, and Chaela spent 90. Yeah. One of the reasons it was so long was that we took our time out here from UT, that trip alone was 45 hours. The reason? We left at 9pm at night, drove 8-ish hours, stopped and slept, went and visited Will's friend in WY, drove to NE, stopped and slept, had to stop at Wal-Mart to get formula and a new sippy cup, got to IA, stopped and slept... you get the idea. My suggestion: do NOT leave at night. Just get a good night's rest and leave in the morning. You still get there at the same time, as evidenced by my sisters leaving from ID the morning after we did and catching up to us an hour outside of Columbus. Yeah. So not worth it.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Finally Some Pictures! (Part 1)
Well, here are some pictures of what we've been doing for the past month! The first one is from the drive out to OH, it's the bridge over the IL River. Then there are some from Christmas, which was spent in OH/Chicago, meaning we opened presents Christmas Eve morning, spent Christmas Eve with the Jordan side, then spent Christmas Day with the McFarland side. Lots of fun! Before all that, though, we spent a week or so in Columbus with my family just relaxing. 
Chaela with Will's grandma. We enjoyed seeing them before we left UT!
The Bi-annual (whenever we're all home that year) Gingerbread House Contest! Traditional teams Kristin-Jordan and Caitlyn-Lindsay competed this year, along with newcomers William-Jacob. It is clear that Caitlyn-Lindsay won by a landslide, haha.
Will and Jacob's house was actually a Christmas tree, which they frosted by literally pouring frosting over it. Delicious.
Winners!!
Jacob spent much time napping, and Kristin spent much time making strange faces at the camera.
'Twas the night before Christmas (Eve)... I love my parents' house at Christmas.
Be afraid?
Christmas Eve morning my mom made biscuits and gravy. Mmmmmm.
One of Kristin's favorite parts of Christmas is adapting traditional carols. "Oh Kristin-tree, oh Kristin-tree..." is one of her best.
Lindsay is also one for strange faces.
Chaela helping Grandpa Doug open his Shop Vac thing.
Haha. Because Will is so good at guessing, I wrapped the Dark Knight movie I got him in a shoebox, put in this book, a 3 pound weight, and padded it with tissue paper. Woo hoo! I actually surprised him this year! Usually he picks up a box and goes, "it's a blah blah blah," and he's always right!
Anyways, I was going to do all the pictures now, but they're going to have to wait, because I have to watch the Office now. Also coming soon: a map of our travels! Exciting!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
2008 Recap
I stole this from Maya who stole it from her friend. It seemed like an interesting thing to do.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Had my first child turn one, graduated college, been technically homeless.
2. Did you keep your 2008 resolutions, and will you make more this year?
I never really make resolutions. It seems to me that you can set goals to change at any time of year, and that's what I do.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Carly, and I know about 10 other women who are due to have babies in the next few months. I am not exaggerating.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
None. I've never been outside the continental U.S.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A decent-paying "real" job that I like. Dream big.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Definitely graduation.
8. What was your biggest failure?
Not dropping the baby weight from Chaela and not finishing my book when I had time.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just colds.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
An umbrella stroller.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Well, a lot of people, I think. Chaela, for being such a good baby during 90+ hours in the car in less than a 3 week period, Will, for being willing to move back East with me for a few years, me for graduating, my entire family, for being so generous to Will, Chaela, and I, etc.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Twilight fans. Ha ha.
13. Where did most of your money go?
I don't know, but it's gone! Bills, mostly. We don't get to do much these days but pay bills.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter.
Happier, because I never thought I'd actually graduate. The same amount fat,I think, even though here in VA we're doing a Biggest Loser challenge, so hopefully that won't last much longer!!
15. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gotten better grades.
16. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sat around doing nothing.
17. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I like what Maya said about falling in love with her husband every day. I feel like that. Most of the time. ;) Ha ha.
18. What was the best new book you read?
I read a lot of books, so it's hard to choose. Probably "The Well of Shades." I stared it in 2008 but didn't finish it until 2009.
19. What was your favorite film of the year?
Probably Iron Man, and I know this is silly, but I really like Eagle Eye for some reason. I appreciated The Dark Knight, but it was really too violent for me.
20. What kept you sane?
Will. No question.
21. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Things you think are impossible really can be achieved if you stick to it. I confess, I honest to goodness never thought I would graduate. I mean, looking back it was inevitable, since I wasn't going to drop out either, but I never really grasped the reality of finishing school, you know?
An update on us:
We're doing well, still in Richmond. I've sent out my resume to quite a few places and Will has applied for several jobs. Right now we're focusing on places that reimburse tuition for him, since that would be an enormous load off our backs. Diane and Nate are beyond generous to put up with us, and I'm hopeful that I'll have a job soon and we can start looking for a place to rent.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Had my first child turn one, graduated college, been technically homeless.
2. Did you keep your 2008 resolutions, and will you make more this year?
I never really make resolutions. It seems to me that you can set goals to change at any time of year, and that's what I do.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Carly, and I know about 10 other women who are due to have babies in the next few months. I am not exaggerating.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
None. I've never been outside the continental U.S.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A decent-paying "real" job that I like. Dream big.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Definitely graduation.
8. What was your biggest failure?
Not dropping the baby weight from Chaela and not finishing my book when I had time.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just colds.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
An umbrella stroller.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Well, a lot of people, I think. Chaela, for being such a good baby during 90+ hours in the car in less than a 3 week period, Will, for being willing to move back East with me for a few years, me for graduating, my entire family, for being so generous to Will, Chaela, and I, etc.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Twilight fans. Ha ha.
13. Where did most of your money go?
I don't know, but it's gone! Bills, mostly. We don't get to do much these days but pay bills.
14. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter.
Happier, because I never thought I'd actually graduate. The same amount fat,I think, even though here in VA we're doing a Biggest Loser challenge, so hopefully that won't last much longer!!
15. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gotten better grades.
16. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sat around doing nothing.
17. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I like what Maya said about falling in love with her husband every day. I feel like that. Most of the time. ;) Ha ha.
18. What was the best new book you read?
I read a lot of books, so it's hard to choose. Probably "The Well of Shades." I stared it in 2008 but didn't finish it until 2009.
19. What was your favorite film of the year?
Probably Iron Man, and I know this is silly, but I really like Eagle Eye for some reason. I appreciated The Dark Knight, but it was really too violent for me.
20. What kept you sane?
Will. No question.
21. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Things you think are impossible really can be achieved if you stick to it. I confess, I honest to goodness never thought I would graduate. I mean, looking back it was inevitable, since I wasn't going to drop out either, but I never really grasped the reality of finishing school, you know?
An update on us:
We're doing well, still in Richmond. I've sent out my resume to quite a few places and Will has applied for several jobs. Right now we're focusing on places that reimburse tuition for him, since that would be an enormous load off our backs. Diane and Nate are beyond generous to put up with us, and I'm hopeful that I'll have a job soon and we can start looking for a place to rent.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Surprise Attack!
Hello! Just so everyone knows, Will, Chaela, and I are no longer in Memphis, TN... we are in Richmond, VA. Surprise!
We went Memphis like we'd planned, but after spending some time there, we didn't feel like it was the right place for us, though it is cool and has delicious BBQ. Throughout our week long stay, however, my friend Diane kept calling me and telling me she'd found this and this and this job opportunity in Virginia, where she lives. So after some thinking and praying, Will and I decided to pack up once again and head over to Richmond. Now we're here and it feels more like home than any other place has so far, which is awesome! We're looking forward to trying to settle here for a few years, at least until Will is done with school. It's great, because we're two hours or less from the following:
1. The Atlantic Ocean (which means THE BEACH!)
2. Good Skiing
3. Washington, D.C.
4. The D.C. Temple
5. Williamsburg, the oldest still inhabited town in the U.S. (less than an hour)
6. The Jamestown settlement
7. Several Civil War battlefields
We're also fairly close to Philadelphia, PA, which I would really like to see, a few good friends of mine, and my family! Yay!
So we're pretty excited about it and we'll keep you updated. I'm really hoping that this is the place. Ha ha.
We went Memphis like we'd planned, but after spending some time there, we didn't feel like it was the right place for us, though it is cool and has delicious BBQ. Throughout our week long stay, however, my friend Diane kept calling me and telling me she'd found this and this and this job opportunity in Virginia, where she lives. So after some thinking and praying, Will and I decided to pack up once again and head over to Richmond. Now we're here and it feels more like home than any other place has so far, which is awesome! We're looking forward to trying to settle here for a few years, at least until Will is done with school. It's great, because we're two hours or less from the following:
1. The Atlantic Ocean (which means THE BEACH!)
2. Good Skiing
3. Washington, D.C.
4. The D.C. Temple
5. Williamsburg, the oldest still inhabited town in the U.S. (less than an hour)
6. The Jamestown settlement
7. Several Civil War battlefields
We're also fairly close to Philadelphia, PA, which I would really like to see, a few good friends of mine, and my family! Yay!
So we're pretty excited about it and we'll keep you updated. I'm really hoping that this is the place. Ha ha.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Sneaking a Moment
Hello! It's about 2 a.m. and Will and I are just finishing up packing to leave (once again). This time we're headed to Memphis, TN to try and find jobs and such things. We're going to stay with Jason and Jana (thank you!) for a week or so to see what there is to be seen and get a feel for the place. If things don't go there, we have a few options that we're thinking about. The most important thing at this point is to generate an income. Anyways, I'd better get back to packing and such so I can sleep. Later!
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