YES! and if only...

BLUE SKIES! That is the YES part. Palm trees...that is the if only. Can you imagine palm trees in rexburg?!?!! Oxymoron. Anyway...this is the second day in a row that there are blue skys and the snow is...kind of...slOWLY...melting. The only thing is, I KNOW it will come back. Yesterday I had kind of a fit in the car. I was yelling I HATE SNOW! Really...this year, I have had enough! I am so ready for summer and the marvelous feeling of being able to go outside with just a t-shirt on. The WONDROUS feeling of not having the struggle of wanting to wear one pair of shoes but knowing you should just wear your big boots, whether or not it goes with your outfit. I am excited to not be regretful when I go outside and am not wearing a hat. I am excited for our windows to NOT be sweating 24/7! Did you know that when I walk, I have to walk 10 times as slow in fear that I'll slip and fall on my bum...and when Clay is around, I am clinging to his arm for safety? BAH! Enough complaining. Rexburg IS a great place. Probably one of the lowest crime rates I'm sure. Really nice people. Small town, which is nice. I'm just sick of winter being forever. Someday....SOMEday, my friends...it will be better.

Who knows, maybe we will live in Idaho...for those of you who DON'T know- we are pretty set on living in California. We obviously aren't positive-things could definitely not work out. But Clay wants to do what Shad does, and the sound of warmth everyday is very satisfying to us.

Well- HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE! We are going to Idaho Falls tonight to go bowling(REAL bowling...not just Wii bowling) and have dinner with the family, of course. We are also going to SuperWalmart. Yeah. Get this- our walmart, isn't a super walmart and the superwalmart in Idaho Falls is CHEAPER! We decided we can never make significant purchases here unless we check there first! How annoying. You know Walmart has TRIED to become SUPER before...but big fat Broulims (the king grocery store in Idaho...the wife of the owner is my stake relief society president...she is lovely, really) won't let them! They dominate the city council or whatever, and wont let them become super. That's the talk around town anyway. Wow, do I seem negative today? Sorry. Anyway, I AM excited to go. We are also doing our laundry (we do our laundry at Clay's parents...) which I'm way excited about as well. I've been wearing my BYU-Idaho sweats every single day since I've gotten them, which is a week ago. I think they need a wash. Can I tell you how excited I am to one day own a washer and dryer in my own establishment?

Well, enough negativity for one day. Sorry if this was depressing. I really do love my life and I am so blessed to be here in Rexburg and live so close to Clay's wonderful family. We really really really do feel so blessed to be where we are at in our lives and couldn't ask for more. I'm just a cry baby.

Hmmmmm

Chocolate...after eating one hershey's kiss this morning I decided- THAT'S IT! I am going without chocolate for the rest of my life. HA! Yeah right. I would never think that. I did however, decide to go without for an entire WEEK! It will be difficult, but I feel I can do it. I really have just been eating SO MUCH JUNK this entire MONTH that I feel the need to clean out my system of the goods. I already miss it. I am craving cookies as I type. Oh well. I think it will be good for me. I had some stomach aches today. It was odd. In the bathroom, popping a zit (how lovely) I felt the sudden urge to vomit, then within seconds the feeling was gone. Trust me, it had nothing to do with the zit- I deal with those daily. Then later in the day it happened again. Random seconds of stomach nausea and then nothing. I also have been getting headaches the past couple of days. I decided a break from chocolate will do the trick. I feel like an alcoholic...but with chocolate. A chocoholic. I even considered looking it up online to see some tips on cutting back. I didn't. Not to say I wont:)

Well anyway, today we had the pleasure of borrowing from some friends "GUITAR HERO III" YAHHH ROCKON! It's way cool. It is for the Wii. It is WAY HARD TOO! Holy smokes! We had a blast though. Clay is way better at it than I am. We play guitar to songs like "I want to rock all night"; "Barracuda"; "School's out for summer" and other songs like that. I was a little offended of one of the guitar players who was a woman with a black bra on and black pants with her thong hanging out. She was a cartoon of course, but it was still a little disturbing considering CHILDREN play this. And I don't want to see it either! Ha, it ways way fun though. We totally want one. We also want DDR BAD! (dance dance revolution). Typical huh? Right after Christmas when we are spoiled we are already making lists of what we want next! I sicken myself.

Well it's been snowing like crazy still. I am super glad we decided not to go to Utah. I think we would be in very dangerous road situations.

I am starting to get bored. No school and no work gets to me after a while. I have finished the second installment of "The Company of Good women". It was good. I finished my quilt. I've cleaned our apartment. I've blogged, while no one ELSE is blogging. I've messed around on my Zune. It's annoying. Some days I LOVE IT. Some days, like today, I am really anxious for time to move on so that I can start my internship and be back in a normal groove. I don't have a solid routine...I need that! With school I had a solid routine everyday.

Okay, that's all for now! Love to you all. Pray and wish me luck that I can make this goal of no chocolate for a week!

Oh Britney

Well, I as I am typing I have my earphones in my ears listening to "Hit Me Baby One More Time" on my new Zune. Can I just say...Britney had some GOOD TUNES in her early years. I don't care HOW she is today, I LOVE THIS ALBUM! And I LOVED going to her concerts. Yep, did you know that? I have been to TWO Britney Spears concerts. The first one was like the first year she was a singer and my sweet sister Lizzie waited in line in the wee hours of the morning so that she could take me to a Britney Spears concert! It was at a state or county fair. I can't quite remember. I know that it was on the grass and we were way close. Joey McIntyre opened. So did a bunch of awesome dancers. I remember a couple of guys chanted in the middle of Britney's performance: "Take it off! Take it off!" ha..haa.. I remember thinking..."I hope she doesn't.". Lizzie and her friend from college took me and I remember they took turns holding me on their shoulders so I could see better. I was still in elementary school! Anyway, GREAT experience! Then later in middle school I got tickets for my birthday I think...and so did Steph and Jenni, and I got two so that Amy could go with me. It was me, amy, emily, steph and jenni. This time Britney was MUCH bigger. It was at the rose garden and steph, me and Amy were in the very back row of the entire building. haha. We had binoculors. This time Aaron Carter opened! Wow that was a good experience too. I wasn't even expecting to write about this...I just it just comes with the music! All I know is I can't really listen to "Baby one more time" without dancing! I LOVE IT! I also love all the memories that go with those times! It is really so sad that she has so much drama in her life now.

This is main street outside our window.

Well bad news....I can't go see Lizzie tomorrow:'( We have been having major snow storms and one is heading in tonight. Basically, it is way too dangerous for us to be on the road going over PASSES. Major disappointment. Oh well...we'll see them in like...7 months.

I watched High School Musical 2 today. I also watched special features which showed dress rehearsals of the dances. I basically decided it is my dream to be on the cast of High School Musical. Can you imagine? Their job is to learn dances and songs and dance all day long and sing all day long. HELLO! I love doing that! I was also thinking- those kids MUST be in shape. All those rehearsals and performances of all those dramatic dances have got to keep their body nice.
I got home and sat at the computer and it smelt like onions. I looked in the garbage and it was empty. There was no food around. I was so confused. I thought maybe it was me. The next day, different clothes, still smelt like onions! Today I completely cleaned the computer desk and it no longer smells like onions! Wierd huh? Something about onions in my life...

Well that's all for now! Love you all!!!!

Merry Christmas!

Yay! I must say, I am COMPLETELY overjoyed with my Christmas. I was completely spoiled! I got so many wonderful things! I have to admit, one of my favorite presents was a stocking stuffer from Patty- an electric toothbrush! Holy COW! How have I gone so long without one of these marvelous wonders?! At first I was a little handicapped while using it. I was afraid to close my mouth so toothpaste was falling out of my mouth and onto my hand...it was a mess. Then I was brave, closed my mouth and LOVED IT! The best part was when I was done...I totally felt like my teeth were completely clean...with barely any effort! They felt so clean and slick!

Well, I did get many more things of much more value than this electric toothbrush. First and foremost: my ZUNE! It is awesome! I am currently syncing songs to it as I type! I also got 3 shirts from Patty, Harmoni and Makayla. Clay got me an ADORABLE dress from DownEastOutfitters. It's like my favorite store. It is SO CUTE! He also got me the Josh Groban Christmas CD. It is so good. He also got me a coat from Target! Lizzie and Shad gave us gift cards to Walmart! Mom and Dad gave me a coat from Target and some money. (I know I have 2 coats but realize I live in IDAHO- I want to feel cute when I have to wear a coat EVERY DAY!) I got some bath and body works stuff that smells good. It is Mango Mandaran. I put some lotion on...you know how I'm allergic to Mangos? Well I am not reacting to the lotion so I was just wondering if that is normal for you to be allergic to a food on the inside, but not on the outside...you know? For our Christmas Eve pajama presents (that is a tradition for Clay's family- pajamas on Christmas Eve) we got BYU-Idaho sweatshirt and sweatpants. I love them! They are soooo comfy and soft. Well that is pretty much all of my main gifts. I think I got a few things here and there as well, but those were the main events! I will DEFINITELY take a picture of my clothes and everything we've been doing later when I'm showered and stuff.

Well, we had a HUGE snow storm! My goodness! It snowed SO MUCH! I am also going to take pictures of that! I liked it a little because it's so pretty, but it is also really kind of scary. It made me really scared for when I'm driving by myself to Idaho falls and Rexburg.

Overall, this Christmas is fantastic! I miss everyone so much though...that has been a little hard, but it has been nice to spend time with Clay's family, they are wonderful.

I love you all! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to say- on the next post...I have no idea why the video came three times!!! They are all the same one...

I'm living in a white christmas!

Yes. Not dreaming, but living.

The other night I watched White Christmas. Oh how I love that movie! I really do think it is my FAVORITE Christmas movie! I love it so much.
I love these women. ESPECIALLY Vera Ellen. That's her real name. Judy in White Christmas, the really really really skinny one that is an AMAZING DANCER! I really just wish that every movie was like this. I really need to start watching more movies that were made in the 50's. They really just make me so happy! This is just one of the clips that are my favorite. I tried finding the clip where she is dancing in her yellow dress with a random man in rehearsal because that is THE BEST! But I couldn't. I love this song though! The coloring starts out weird but it gets normal, just keep watching!





I also watched High School Musical. I LOVED IT! All were right who recommended it. Now- if you watched it with your husband, I'd say try try again. I would probably not be as big of a fan because I'm sure Clay would've made fun of it if he watched it. I loved it so much. I can't wait to see the second!

So I thought I would share this little story with you because I always share my successes in this departement....you all deserve to see my failures too! So I was making homemade wheat bread and Jacob, my brother, called. We were chatting, but I had to keep working because the yeast was in there and I didn't want the dough to get all messed up. WELL- I got off the phone with him and realized I HAD to of put in WAY TOO MUCH flour because the dough was like falling apart. So I called my mother, she just giggled and said, you may as well bake it and see if it turns out since it's all in there. So I did...and THIS is what came of it!

YUCK! I decided I can't talk to people while I'm making bread. No good can come of it. So now you know- I don't only bake delicious things, I also bake disgusting things!!!

Here is a picture of Clay that is kind of funny. I walked out of the room seeing this-

Yes. He is talking on TWO CELL PHONES! AT THE SAME TIME! ToysRUs on one end, and his mother on the other. Can you believe that? I just thought it was too funny not to share.

Well tonight we are on our way to Clay's parent's house. It is Makayla's b-day- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Who knows if she actually reads this. But anyway, it is her birthday today, and Harmoni's on Saturday. Makayla is turning 14, and Harmoni 19. I will take pictures. They are both way beautiful girls. I know all the boys in Idaho Falls are inlove with them. Anyway, we are going to Johnny Carino's tonight- an italian restaurant like Olive Garden which many people claim is even better! We are excited. We are staying there until Wendnesday I think. Clay will have to come back home on monday to work but will be back that evening.

Lets see...anything else? I really don't think so. Has anyone seen the movie: "Dan in Real Life"? It is coming to our cheap seats and I watched the trailer online and it actually looked pretty good. Let me know if you know otherwise. OKAY! Love you all!!! Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this time of year!

9 days!

TILL CHRISTMAS! WOOOPEEEEEEE! Ha, Clay and I are very excited for Christmas. We are pretty excited in general. I mean...no school for weeks! (months for me- yay!) and Clay is only working half days the whole break meaning we get to spend a ton of time together! I get to do projects and sleep in and my goodness it feels great! It's funny- Clay ALWAYS- I mean...EVERY SINGLE NIGHT wants to stay up late. I always want to go to bed. Tonight- it is 12:41 am and I am not even tired. I could go to bed and fall asleep, sure, but I don't feel like it. I am guessing it is because I am not stressed whatsoever about tomorrow, or the next day, or the next! Life is bliss! Is that the correct usage of that phrase? Whatever.

So can I say that I LOVE my new layout? Thanks to Megan for the sweet hookup. matiekay.blogspot.com that is the website for fun layouts if you're interested. I get happy most times when I look at my blog now.

I am happy to say that I still love my hair. It is truly amazing what a good hair cut/dye can do for you. I feel 10x's better about myself and am way more motivated to fix myself up everyday.

I am also happy to say that I am finally at rest about this internship thing. I mean, I am still nervous as heck, but I am finally confident in myself that I will do well, and am a fast learner and all will go as it should. I am seeing the light called "Graduation" and am very pleased to see it. For those who are wondering...I should graduate April of 2009. 3 semesters left of classes after the internship.

Clay and I have been watching Season 7 of Gilmore Girls. Men, make fun of my husband if you want but I say he must be very secure to admit to liking gilmore girls. The fact of the matter is, all of you like it too. I've heard your wives tell me this and seen it myself, we watch the show (or other "chick flicks") and you are doing something on the computer or passing through like you are busy, but really, you are watching it and loving it! Anyway, Clay has faithfully gone through each season with me after it's come out on dvd. We have 2 episodes left. I wanted to finish them tonight but Clay was a little gilmored out for the night. (He likes them, but obviously not to the extent that I do!!!) I must say, Gilmore Girls never get old with me. I loooooooove them. Such a comfort.

I am really quite home sick. In fact, I'll admit that today I looked at every post my mom ever posted. I didn't read everything, but I looked back to see all the pictures. I hate it because I wont be visiting for months. Oh well...I think it is the holiday time thing. I am way excited to spend time with Clay's family for Christmas, really- they are such wonderful loving people and it will be way fun to spend this holiday with them, but I am feeling a little blue about spending my first Christmas away from momma and pops. When we moved to the coast my sophmore year, it was just me and them at the house and we all three became best friends. I always preferred spending time at home than going out and if I had friends over I was never embarrassed to watch movies with my parents or sit and talk with them. And my friends liked it too! For some reason lately I've been missing that. I've been missing everyone really. I'm glad I get to see Lizzie and Shad and the kids next week. It will probably help.

Well, I think I will go read. I have my regular background sound of shooting guns and explosions (Clay's video games) so it'll be just perfect! I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope your holidays are just wonderful. Oh yeah- how'd you like my random pictures? I write a lot and decided I'd try to spice it up a bit:)

WOOHOO!

Well, the semester is...FINALLY over! YAY! Most of the tests went well...I don't know for sure on some of them...so, there you go!

A small update on the fish. It was devestating. Clay's parents lovingly bought us more fish (clay got to pick them out of course) like I said: 4 tiger barbs, an angel fish, and an algae eater. Well, let me tell you- the result of the combination was a shock. Clay did TONS of research saying that these fish all went well together. The people at PETSMART told him that these fish would go well together. EVERYTHING SAID that these fish would be peaceful together. Within 48 hours, all were dead except the tiger barbs and algae eater. The most devestating was Rosemary. Clay and I have really become attatched to her. She seriously had SO much personality for a fish. She was pretty, funny and we really loved her. It was the most horrible thing. Clay took it really hard. Especially after they were all dead. Now that it is just the tiger barbs and the algae eater in the tank, another situation has arrived. Our tiger barbs are acting slightly....drunk. I know that sounds funny but it is true. The word 'tipsy' PERFECTLY describes how they are acting. They swim perfectly normal and then all of a sudden fall upside down and float down upside down and then start swimming normally again. It is SO WEIRD. We don't know if we should worry or laugh. They are really just acting like lunatics. So...what are we going to do about these assasins of fish? The angel fish died the day we put it in basically so we can return it and get different fish. We are kind of scared that the tiger barbs will KILL anything it comes in contact with and we are fearful to trust any source having to do with them now. Last time, all sources and signs pointed to friendliness with other fish, but obviously that was wrong. I just hate this because Clay is doing EVERYTHING he is supposed to do. Bad luck I guess. Well, we found a PERFECT tank at the DI for $10 that includes a light, filter and everything. We snatched that sucker right up (clay is kind of charging it on his future Christmas gift money account...ha..ha) well anyway, we are putting the tiger barbs in their own tank and getting new fish with the money from the angel fish and clay will probably have some money from christmas he will buy more fish with. We are probably just going to get CALM NON-AGGRESSIVE fish this time for our big tank. They really do have categories of aggressiveness, and yes, we have been following all the rules. By the way, the tank we got at DI we saw at Walmart for 30 bucks! YAH! We got a deal. Man, we really didn't realize going into this whole fish business would cause such a drama in our life! Clay is still happy though...kind of. I mean, he is still determined to have this hobby. Sad though, when his fish die.

It has been snowing like CARAZY! Today I walked home from school and my face felt like it was going to fall off. I almost wished it would have fallen off. It probably would've felt better. My ears too. I forgot to wear a hat. I heard on the radio today that we are supposed to have snow for 7 straight days. Interesting. It's pretty I guess. I just hate driving in it.

Tomorrow we are going to Idaho Falls to run a lot of errands and of course, spend time with Clay's family. It will be nice. We have planned to get there by 11:00...I HOPE that happens.

I have so many goals to get done this break. I bet most of them wont get done. That's not a very good attitude huh? Well, I really want to get them done. One is to redo our entire budgeting system. I need to make it as easy as possible for me to keep track of things. Any advice or ideas? I'm thinking of trying the "envelope system".

Today I cleaned for like 3 and a half hours! Can you believe I could work that long in my small apartment and I could've done even MORE! Geez. I guess we have just let it build up a lot these past couple weeks. Oh well. Now that we have a clean apt, it feels and looks so good. We all know what that feels like.

Well, I am going to go do...something. Something else anyway. I don't know WHAT yet. Love to you all! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Bella and Edward

These are the people who will play Bella and Edward! Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Do you totally recognize him? He is CEDRIC DIGGORY! How funny! So, I think that they look great! Obviously not PERFECTION- I mean, I didn't picture him in my head when reading about Edward, BUT I think they both look the part. I just hope the acting doesn't stink. Love you all! CYA

NEW HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving pics I never posted.





Isn't mom pretty in this picture? I thought so.
I know this pic is blurry, but I wanted to put it up because Gracie's outfit is so cute in it!!!

So I put some picks of thanksgiving up that I didn't think I did before. If I already did...woops! Anyway, I got my hair done by Stephanie yesterday. I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE IT! Seriously, she has only been at school for like less than 4 months and she is way good! I totally love it and Clay LOVES it. It was way fun too to get together with Stephanie. She is so beautiful and fun. Anyway, that's pretty much it! Oh no, that's a lie. So Clay's parents were up here a while ago and saw our HUGE tank with 3 small fish in it, and were like: next time you're in Idaho Falls we are buying you more fish. SO- last night they bought us some fish! We now have 5 Tiger Barbs (that is the same kind that Assassin is. We have an angel fish! And lastly we now have another algae eater. So our tank is WAY lively. I'll take a quick video later today. Clay was up till 2am I think researching everything having to do with fish....again. ha. I thought he'd already researched all he could! I guess there's always more.

Lastly I would like to thank ALL of you for your kind words of comfort for me and my internship. They have really helped! I am trying to keep remembering that this is an INTERNSHIP, I am supposed to LEARN and that THEY realize that. hehe. I am overparranoid. Alright, Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Holidays! I have the song from "White Christmas" the movie in my head where they sing "Even a man with two left feet, will do alright if the girl is sweet..........when we're dancing..seems to be romancing..." I obviously can't remember ALL the words, but I LOVE THAT MOVIE!

Nothing New...

Well, I really haven't posted in a while and it's because there hasn't really been anything exciting. Pretty much just homework and studying. Today has been hard because I have SEVERE fridayitus. You know like senioritus, but fridayitus. I know I have the weekend, so I don't want to do ANYTHING. I already wasted some time reading a book Patty gave me probably a couple months ago. It is written by an LDS author called "Almost Sisters". It is way good. I am not done yet, so don't know my recommendation status on it, but so far I am really enjoying it. It is just one of those feel good books. So far anyway. I DID work on my tax return due tuesday though. I felt pretty stupid because while I was working on it, I e-mailed my teacher 2 times with questions. And then e-mailed him a 3rd time before any response saying, sorry...I figured it out. Only one week left of school and I am DYING for it to be over. I know I should just be grateful I am getting an education...it is just so hard to have that attitude. Hah, I really just want it to be over! Thank GOODNESS I will do my internship next semester with NO CLASSES! Ah, bliss! Don't get me wrong, it will still be hard and tiring...40 hours a week and an hours worth of commute everyday. But, I am excited. I am trying to not be so nervous, but I still am. At least I am sleeping well again. The first few days after I got the offer I was seriously not sleeping well. I kept tossing and turning because I was so nervous. I always feel so inadequate. For almost everything. I feel this is a big weakness of mine. I am constantly thinking I'm not good enough, smart enough, experienced enough, whatever.

Well, here it is. The most exciting news of the week: We get random stuff in the mail all the time. Well finally something of VALUE came. JCPenny gave us a flyer with a coupon on it that says "$10 off a single in-store purchase of $10 or more some restrictions apply. See savings certificate below for details.
So anyway...I got SO EXCITED. I admit, I didn't see that small print at first, but I looked and of course, almost everything is restricted. BUT- not EVERYthing. I tell you- I am going to find SOMEthing that is $10 in that store and get it for free! I am way excited.

The fish seem to be good. It's pretty chill since the tiger barb died. We have officially named the other one (the one that tired our other fish to DEATH) "Assassin". Like it? It's unfortunate we had to name him that, but it most definitely fit.

Oh, I take back my earlier statement. THIS is the most exciting news: I get to see Lizzie and her family during Christmas break! Now- do you realize how long it's been since we've seen each other? I'll tell you. 1 and 1/2 years! Basically since we got married. I have NEVER seen Kate in real life. I am sooooooooooo excited. They are going to be in Utah for Christmas and Clay and I are going to go spend a night down there so we can spend some time with them. It will also be good for Clay because he wants to do what Shad does for a living so this will be his chance to ask any questions he needs to. Also, Lizzie and Shad really don't know Clay at all. They really have only met. So this will be a good opportunity for them to get to know each other. HOW EXCITING!

Right now I am going through the dilemma: to read my accounting chapters....or not to read my accounting chapters...that is the question. To read my business law chapters....or not to read my business law chapters. I really am leaning towards the not. blah. School is making me crazy. It is supposed to make you smart, but it really makes you crazy by the end.

Alright, I love you all! Supposedly a huge storm is coming our way. I hope it's not so bad that I can't go to my hair appointment tomorrow. I am getting my hair done by none other than Stephanie Mitchell! I hear she's good:) It's pretty awesome because I just so happen to want my hair done on the very day that they are letting people bring in coats and cans of soup for free hair cuts. Score.

Internship

I was going to take a picture of the letter, but my camera is DEAD! Gr. Anyway- I know I said we were going to stick with Rexburg for my internship, but this opportunity presented itself and we decided to hop on it! I saw an add online for 3 open positions for an internship in Idaho Falls with a CPA firm, for a Tax Accountant. The requirement for the position was that you have taken a tax class. I am currently taking a tax class. It says that it pays $8/hour. So I call up and ask if the position is still available. It's just the secretary and so she tells me to just e-mail my resume. I e-mail my resume expecting to wait a week or so to see how they are doing, and like 20 minutes later one of the partners calls me and says, I just got your resume, it just so happens we got a cancellation THIS morning and so I was really glad to see your resume. We'd really like to meet you. When can you come down to Idaho Falls? I told him I could make it the next day. So I went in my pinstriped pants and button up shirt with my blazer atop and talked to Kent Oseen. The business is called 'Crandall and Oseen, PA' Well anyway. He basically said, well we are very interested in hiring you, are you interested in us? I said, yes, I am very interested! He asked me a few questions, introduced me to a couple other accountants (I think, he never really clarified their role in the office...they seemed somewhat important) and then he said that he would send me a formal letter that I would need to sign and send back and thats that. Well, I got the letter today! Wooohooooo! So I am going to take it. I am actually pretty nervous though. I mean, the thing about this internship is...I really am going to be doing a lot of stuff. Not just...running errands and getting coffee. You know? On the letter it says:
"As an intern, we ask that you be willing to help in all aspects of our office including answering phones, helping clients, as well as completing tax returns...."

Wow. Helping clients? In the interview he said I'd be helping clients understand their returns and things like that and that I would be doing everything they do. He said by the time I am done there I will definitely know how to do tax returns. WELL- I know I have fulfilled the requirement for a tax class but I just always fear the worst that they are like expecting me to know everything about taxes and have my entire tax book memorized. Let me tell you- I DON'T! I know more than I did last semester, but the thought of giving advice and explaining things to clients?!?! That makes me nervous. I always fear that when I take a job, they are just going to let me loose and say, good luck! Like...no training. I KNOW that's not realistic...I hope it isn't anyway. I mean, what if I start and they are like...what?! We thought you would know all of this stuff...why did we even hire you? Am I crazy thinking all this? Probably. Anyway. I'm sure it will all be fine. They said numerous times in the interview, 'You will learn SO much here. It will be SUCH a good experience to you and will even help you in the rest of your school.' Stuff like that. So when they say stuff like LEARN and EXPERIENCE I figure they expect that I don't KNOW a lot of that stuff. That makes sense. I am reassured.

Ha, now that you have all read my mind and the crazy worries...if you even got this far...I will tell you that I LOVE christmas time. I love that there are christmas lights outside and I love Sunny radio station that plays christmas music all the time! Yesterday I made chocolate chip pumpkin bread. YUM! Oh- one sad note. I just realized because I looked at our fish tank. One of our tiger barbs died. I don't know if I mentioned this, but one of the tiger barbs was chasing the other one NON-STOP. Literally. Nipping at it too. It was crazy. We worried about it. Clay kept saying that he was going to tire him to death. He did. We watched him die. Well...Clay watched him die. I watched him suffer and twitch and then I couldn't take it anymore. How sad. Now we think that the aggressive tiger barb, and the aggressive Rosemary are friends. It's funny. Not the dying part, the friends part.

Okay, that's all. I love you!!!

Just a little update

WELL- I would've posted some pictures but I left my camera at Rebecca's accidentally. BY THE WAY- you all need to check out Rebecca's blog because she has now started updating!!! There are WAY cute pics on there of the girls.

So anyway- Clay and I enjoyed our last day of thanksgiving break relaxation today together. It was SO nice. We just hung around, watched 2 movies: Oceans 13 and World Trade Center. I enjoyed both...kind of. I mean, how do you describe World Trade Center? I was thinking in the middle of it, ' I can see why some people get upset with hollywood made movies about real events that were tragedies...it's like- this shouldn't be a form of entertainment' you know what I mean? I guess it is good though because it was a total respect to all of those policemen and firemen and all of those brave people that sacrificed themselves for others. I was definitely crying by the end. It's weird because I remember that time, I was so scared and sad but wasn't thinking of those brave hero's- I was thinking of all the poor people in the planes and in the buildings- which of COURSE, were so sad- but the movie really really put in perspective the amazing people in the world that put others before themselves even with the prospect of dying in the process of saving them. I can't imagine being in the situation some of those people were in. I am so grateful for them.

Anyway, we had a wonderful thanksgiving. I was able to see my parents which is ALWAYS wonderful. I got to spend time with my sister and nieces. Anna was of course, obsessive over Clay the ENTIRE time. Poor guy, he was a VERY good sport about it. Only once, on the last day we were there, did he come to me and say- "I need you" while anna was clinging to his side. He played piano with her, he played games, he colored, he let her climb all over him. We were all very impressed! She is a cutie though, he did say that she called him Greg a few times, and told him that he sounded like Mike. Clay thought that she thinks of them all kind of the same or something. I don't know. But all of the girls were way cute and fun to be around. Gracie was talking up a storm and SO busy. Oh, and she was singing ALL the time! It was so cute. Aliese was of course writing and playing and a very good big sister. I made an Apple Pie, and thought it was very delicious indeed. Rebecca made an amazing Pumpkin Cheesecake which was wonderfully delectable. We also had chocolate pie, chocolate creamcheese pie thing, caremeled apples, and I THINK that's it for the treats. We had all of the traditional items for the main meal. Thanksgiving is wonderful.

Mom, Rebecca, the girls and I all went to see "Enchanted". It was SO CUTE. Oh my goodness, we all loved it! It was so funny and just really cute. You should all see it.

Lets see....we were very pleased to come home and see that all of our fish were still alive! I even fed them by myself today. I felt wonderful about that.

One funny story to tell....while we were watching world trade center today- we had cadbury mini eggs. DELISH! Anyway- We were eating them and then Clay wanted to lay down, so I needed to move to the end of the couch right? Well I got up and there was melted chocolate all underneath where I was sitting. I turned and saw that I had melted chocolate all over my left bum cheek! Oh my goodness- I have NO IDEA how that happened. I'm guessing a few just rolled out of the bag or something. Anyway- we were laughing so hard about it for some reason. We cleaned it up, I changed pants and then came back to sit on the couch. Well, the movie got over and I stood up- MORE CHOCOLATE WAS MELTED UNDER MY LEFT BUM! Can you believe it?!?!?!! You can imagine, we were laughing even more. How did this happen!?!?! Clay told me that from now on, if I eat cadbury mini eggs, he has to hand feed them to me himself. Isn't that crazy? Dear oh dear.

Lastly, it has finally become winter here! Typical 20's to 30's. Snowy....the works. Hoorah for us! It's kind of a relief. Because it was so delayed, I think there was a subconcience struggle inside of me wondering when it would come. I no longer feel that struggle.

Alright, Clay and I were going to play some Nintendo Wii, so wish me luck on beating him to the pulp! :)

Christmas decor!

Well, there it is! I love it. I LOVE Christmas decor. Well, right now my house smells amazing. I am making chicken noodle soup (homemade- but from canned broth and canned chicken) it smells great! I think we will eat some tonight and then I will freeze the rest in baggies for lunch.

Tomorrow I get to hang out with my Mom and I am SO EXCITED! I love her so much and this morning I was watching Gilmore Girls and got even MORE excited. I am actually really excited to see my dad too, AND my sister and her family.

Today was basically decorating and cleaning. It wasn't that great considering our heater wouldn't turn off for two days- making our apt 84 DEGREES! Yes- that's right, 84! I was sweating my brains out. I would've opened my front windows but it was blowing around my bulbs and I didn't want them to break. We can't control the heat in our apt. It is run the same through the whole building. Finally it turned off in the middle of the day. I was overjoyed.

We are watching Episode 3 tonight with Zane and Kristen and maybe Harmoni, Clay's sister. She is coming up sometime tonight so we can help her register for classes at midnight. She hasn't done it yet so she is a little nervous. I am excited to see her. We barely ever get to talk when we are at Clay's families house because she is always working or dating or something. I figure a crowd of company deserves a batch of cookies, so I am very excited for that:) I always love an excuse to make cookies...and eat them.

All right. I love you all!

I guess that it's tagging season again because Lizzie just posted a tag and it's completely different than my tag. I got tagged this specific one by a couple of people, so I figured I'd do it! It was a fun one. Here goes...

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Begging Steph and Jenni to ride bikes…ALL the time…they never wanted to (they remind me of this a lot whenever we get together)
2. Making up dances with jenni and by myself- begging steph to make one up with us, but she BARELY ever wanted to.
3. Listening in on Amy’s conversations with her friends and DYING to be in her bedroom with them doing cool teenage things.
4. Playing Soccer and loving it!
5. Taking Piano Lessons and practicing for junior bach festivals

5 Things on my to-do list today : It’s the end of the day so I will put what it would’ve been this morning

1. Make a yummy breakfast

2. Go to the temple

3. Curl my hair

4. Get something from Joanns to make a gift ( I cant say what or for whom)

5. Decorate our apt for Christmas time!

5 Foods I enjoy:

1. Mashed Potatoes
2. White Chip Chocolate Cookies
3. Chicken and Rice
4. Homemade whole wheat bread RIGHT out of the oven. I usually eat about half of a loaf the day I make bread.
5. Breakfast food- I LOVE BREAKFAST. I usually prefer IHOP or some equivalent over Olive Garden or some other nice place.

5 Bad habits:

1. I bite my nails

2. I pick my nose…seriously, I don’t know how I started doing that but I do it and I’m sorry if that makes you nervous around me now.

3. I can’t believe it…but I drive under the speed limit. This has happened since I have lived in Idaho. Can you believe that?!?!?! I used to be a speeding maniac in Oregon. Idaho has slowed me down. I try to speed up to the speed limit and then eventually I look down and I'm like 5 under. It just feels more safe that way.

4. I buy lettuce a lot, and we eat some the first day I get it, and then I forget about it and it spoils. Ugh. I hate it.

5. I don’t work out. I think that is a bad habit. A good habit would be to work out. Therefore, not working out is a bad habit.

5 of my favorite toys:

1. Computer
2. Camera
3. Gilmore Girls
4. Bosch
5. Paint

Well, hope you enjoyed! Love you all:)

Fish, Floor, Bathtub, LOTS of stuff

WELL- I should be studying, but the fact of the matter is...I really don't want to. Sometimes, I just know that I wont be able to concentrate, so I decide not to study. Don't worry, I will once I'm done.
So I'm sorry if you are all sick of hearing about our fish. It is really just the most exciting thing of our lives right now. I promise, this is probably our last video. Here are our 2 new fish- this was RIGHT when we got them. You heard the story...right? These are the ones we traded in for King Triton. We've had them for a week probably by now. Well anyway. I watched the video and realized I sounded like a total dork. Oh well...



So when Patty and Paul came to do our floor, they brought a couple presents for us! This is our tank currently. Patty brought Clay 3 more plants and an awesome cave/rock thing in the right corner that the fish LOVE. It makes our tank look sooooo much cooler.


Just a sidenote...I can hear a marching band playing "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight" I can also hear screaming. I can also see the campus football stadium lights on! How cool. I wonder what's going on. I wish that BYU-Idaho played competitive college football. I would love it! I'm not a huge football fan or anything, I would just love to be one of those people that LOVES to represent their team. I don't know. Anyway, I've heard the inermeural (I don't know how to spell that) football games are very exciting. Never been to one though.

Okay- here is our floor!

Before:

Here was our huge gap in the middle. This actually looks better. You know how it looks like it's been peiced together? Well, we only did that right before the new floor was put down. Before that day, the entire thing was just cracked and gone.


Here's just an up-close look at some paint sploches ALL over the floor. Lovely eh?


WELL- after the WONDERFUL Paul and Patty Phillipp put this floor in, WHALA! Look what we have! Clay and I love to just walk up and down it. We love it so much. It has DEFINITELY Improved our place.

We have decided thus far, that we aren't going to paint. The idea sounds wonderful and all, BUT- opportunity cost...eh...well the thing is, we aren't sure we want to spend the money, put in the time, put in the EFFORT, to have an apartment that looks nice. We are already pleased with our place, so...........so far we've decided to just be happy. We HAVE however, decided to rearrange our living room. It will look great.

Well.............lets see. Not much more going on in Danielle and Clayton world. School...tests...cold weather (no snow still...it's weird to me)....macaroni and cheese (I think I hit my max of that meal tonight)...we are pretty much just WAY excited for tomorrow to be done so we can have a WHOLE week of no school. We already planned a movie to watch on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Friday- Oceans Thirteen; Saturday- Star Wars Episode 3; Sunday- The Dance (it is an LDS made film that Patty lent us); Monday- The Outlaw (another LDS film Patty lent us) OH YES- I decided I can't wait any longer. Saturday, we are going to Idaho Falls...Temple/Laundry at Clay's parents house- AND I am planning on bringing back our Christmas Decorations that we store at their house and decorating my apt! I'm sooo excited. I do kind of want to do it so that mom can see all my decor in person, and I am just soooo excited for christmas time. Well, that's it. I love you all!

Just a quick update!

Alright- there are just a few items of news! I don't have time to upload pictures so I am going to just update, and do pictures later.
1. Our manager came over today and told us that he got it approved for us to paint! (as long as they are neutral colors like browns/tans...that is what i'd do anyway!) We are going to pick up paint tomorrow for an FHE activity:) We are WAY excited! Our apartment will look like gold.
2. Our owner of the building FINALLY came and fixed our tub! We have cheap new handles now, and yes...like I said, they are cheap, but now we don't have to store our tools in our shower to turn on the cold water. We feel so spoiled to be able to use handles for our shower. (ha..ha..) Oh yeah, and he fixed our sink in our bathroom that was constantly dripping. That's nice, except it is harder to turn the knob now...oh well.
3. Our hallway is really gross. We finally complained to the managers over and over again. Showed them the HUGE cracked floor in the center that we covered with a rug, and all the paint splotches and basic grossness of it, and they finally brought by flooring! The silly thing is, they aren't installing it for us. Basically I think they would if we wanted to wait until summer, but we don't want to and so Clay's AMAZING parents are coming to put the flooring in for us in our hallway! It is called "Pergo". It is that fake hardwood floor. It looks awesome! We are SO EXCITED.
4. One of our fish died. Our little sucker fish. The one that always hid in the rocks. It was sad. Then, the other day we took back King Triton. He was trying to eat all our fish so....we decided he didn't belong with us. In place of him, we got two "Tiger Barbs". They are WAY cool. One of them is kind of a bully though. We have come to realize that it is just natural for there to be bullying with fish. We just have to deal with it. But they are WAY cool- I will post a video tomorrow.
5. I just looked over at the TV THIS SECOND- and Clay was on his x-box and he was downloading a 'demo' on his xbox last night. ANYway- demos are just little like excerpts from games that you can try out for free to see if you want to get it. SO- he downloaded Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix demo for us to play! hhaha, he is so sweet. I know he probably did it just for me.
That's it! I love you all and will update you all with pictures within the next few days!!!!
PS- I took my tax test on friday and did GREAT! I know it's because I have been reading my scriptures. Seriously, I KNOW that. And I studied SO HARD before I took it. I am sooooo happy.

Fish

Okay, so here is a video of our fish tank.


Just to clarify- Clay was going to get fish and a tank for Christmas. One of Clay's friends called him up about a week ago asking if he could help them pick out a big screen TV and a sound system for their parents. Clay researched and went to Idaho Falls to help out and completely set it up. REALLY, it only took him like a few hours. Anyway, we were only expecting him to get reembursed for gas and stuff, but they reimbursed him AND gave him $100! It was a HUGE surprise. So, Clay came home telling me we would split it 50/50, but I told him that he could just get his fish stuff. SO he went and got this gigantic tank that included like...EVERYTHING a tank needs: filter, heater, light, etc. And four fish. You heard the story in the previous post, these fish in the video are our CURRENT fish. Clay is happy. We think that Rosemary is bullying Gimli, and not letting him eat. (We called one Gimli because they are 'dawrf fish'...you know, Gimli from Lord of the Rings, Rosemary somehow came out of somewhere...i dont know, but it stuck) ANYWAY- we watch, and King Triton and Rosemary always race to the top and start eating all the food when clay feeds them, and then when Gimli tries to go eat, Rosemary goes really fast to him and pushes him away! We are kind of worried Gimli isn't getting any food. Fish are stressful.

Anyway, I come into our living room seeing THIS quite a bit now.

LITERALLY- the first thing Clayton does when he wakes up, is go check on the fish. The last thing he does before we go to bed is check on the fish. He loves them, and is VERY concerned about them.

Nothing else is really new. I have a huge tax test I have to take on saturday. I am worried. He said the last test was one of the hardest. I got a C. He said THIS test is probably the hardest. I'm scared. I didn't study as well as I should've last time though- that was the week I read the Twilight series. Hopefully this week I will be more concentrated.

I am so ready for friday. Thank goodness that is tomorrow. That means I only have to do ONE MORE week, and then I have an entire week off. That's right, we get the WHOLE WEEK of thanksgiving off this semester!!! I am so happy.

WELL- I guess I'm off. Love you all. Bye!

Okay, Okay

Well, I guess I haven't posted in a week! That is probably a record for me. I don't know why. I guess we've been busy...or simply I didn't have anything to blog about. That's not REALLY true though. We have a huge fish tank in our apt with 4 fish swimming around it. We already took one back because it was biting and chasing all our other fish and replaced with with a calmer one. Turns out, they gave us the wrong fish! This fish was in the wrong tank...or something? I don't know exactly. I think Clay told them what he wanted, and they 'went and got it' but Clay didn't realize it until he took it back, that they gave him a completely different fish. Anyway, the fish tank is a lot calmer now. It's funny, we end up just sitting on the floor watching them. They are fascinating. I get bored faster than Clay does. I don't think he EVER gets bored. I have pictures but I have no way of putting them on this computer right now. That will be another post.

I really can't think of anything exciting that has gone on lately. We went to Idaho Falls last saturday for Paul's birthday. That was nice. We went to a breakfast place! Breakfast is my favorite food I think. So...I had a lovely time.

School has been...just as stressful as ever. I can't wait to graduate. I don't know if I'll ever get an internship though. I've been looking everywhere in Rexburg and they are either like, we don't know yet (if we need one) or, you can't because you don't speak spanish (that did happen). WELL, I'm just about to give in and go work for H&R Block. That's considered like...the lowest internship ever, but whatever. I just want to graduate. A kid in my class just got offers from 2 of the biggest CPA firms. Offers like...26.50 an hour with a $2000 signing bonus. JUST for an internship. I kind of wish I could do something like that, but it's not like Clay and I are going to move out to New York for 4 months so that I can get a good internship. It's not like I'm looking for a good job after graduation. Whatever. This whole process is just irritating. I would have way more options if I looked for one in Idaho Falls, but most of the options are in Winter, you know, tax season, and me driving on one of the most dangerous highways in WINTER in IDAHO, is not the best idea. Especially because I'd be going in the morning and night, not the best lighting, and the mornings the plows still plowing. So...we kind of DON'T want me to do that. I am losing hope. I wanted to do my internship next semester. It is very not likely that I could get one in the summer or fall, so that would mean I'd have to wait a whole year, and graduate even later. UGH. We'll see.

Lets see. What else has been in my life lately? Yesterday I cleaned the kitchen. That was an accomplishment. It had been messy for days....finally it got done. I felt way good. It took me an entire hour to do JUST the dishes- remember we don't have a dishwasher?

Well, there's nothing more to talk about. I'll post the pictures later. Love you all.

Free Prints

Directions: Click on the "Download File" link underneath whatever print you'd like. It will lead you to a Google file and all you have to do is click "file" and then "download". Each file is made to be a 16x20 print. You can obviously print it smaller, but I wouldn't suggest any bigger. If you get it printed at Costco, you may see that it says on the site that it's low resolution or something weird like that. Ignore it! It always comes out perfect :) I highly suggest printing at Costco or Sam's Club for only $5 bucks!

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Hmmmmmmmm

I'm starting to realize that I post way more than ANYone else! That's okay. Well, on this Halloween night, I am kind of sad. I don't want to take down my BOO! blocks tomorrow. Or turn around my pumpkins so they only show orange instead of cute faces. I really don't want to take down my witch. They are all so cute. I kind of want to make more blocks that say like...HARVEST, or THANKS on it or something. That way I don't feel totally empty inside (ha, just kidding...I'm not that attached).

Well, I am simply waiting for Clay to finish his homework so we can watch The Office. We have this major Business Law assignment due tomorrow. Of course, neither of us did it until tonight. WELL- while Clay was selflessly setting up our friends sound system, I got mine done. Now he is doing his. I think he is almost done. I also want him to finish so we can eat our cookies sitting on the table. He said he likes to wait to eat them until we are watching the show, and I already ate one, so I decided I could wait, like a good girl.

Well I have yet to find the powdered mix for Hot Apple Cider. I will probably just get the recipe from Patty. I'm sure it's delicious.

Well, yesterday I didn't read my scriptures or say a really solid personal prayer, and guess what? I totally was stressed all day. Not because I was thinking- oh I didn't read my scriptures...blah balh, I was just naturally stressed. Today, I read my scriptures and prayed and I got done my entire list with ease. You'd think I'd get the point and start reading my scriptures EVERY day and saying a sincere prayer ALL the time, but no. I somehow always forget that the testimony of prayer and scripture study has been confirmed over and over and over to me. I decide to get distracted or something. Well---no more! I am going to try so hard to read my scriptures in the morning when I get up EVERY DAY! Imagine the things I could get done in my life! I hope none of you think I'm talking about this lightly or are sick of me talking about this. I really just kind of want all you to know- I'm sure you've all figured it out by now, the secret of: praying and reading your scriptures=happiness. Well, anyway, I just felt I should share.

I just want to say that my husband is so cute. He is VERY handsome. For some reason, he has been wearing the CUTEST outfits lately. He has looked soooo good all the time. It makes me happy. He's a sweety.

I fear that you are all going to stop reading my blog because all I do is write, and I don't have any cute babies to put on here. Oh well. That's okay if you do. I think this is good for me to write. I NEVER write in school anymore. I swear, all I do is crunch numbers or scream in frustration. Do those two relate? Hmmmm, probably yes.

OKAY-one last story. My partner for my tax return...she is pretty silly. I think she is one of those people that LOVES to socialize. First day- she asks me, how long have you been married?--A year and a half--So what year are you?--I am a Junior--5th or 6th semester?--5th--Cool, me too....soooo your like what..21,22?--No I'm 19--*wide eyes* oh well...how does that work out? Did you like...graduate early or something?---Yep--So...are you glad you got married? What is it like? I mean...is it different than being single?--*blank stare*uh...what do you mean is it different?--I mean...what is it like being married? are you glad?--*my thoughts:are you crazy?where are these questions coming from?!* yeah...uh...I do like it. It is way different than single life. We aren't as social...we are poor...ummm...yeah...?- (side note- it was really wierd because she was SO serious when asking me these questions. Like she really feared I wasn't enjoying marriage. Keep in mind, we had just met the day before) she then says--hmmm that's wierd. I just can't see it being any different--Well.........--then somehow we ended up having me tell our entire dating story and then she seemed happy. She is weird. Then yesterday we were in the library and she was looking around constantly and saying hi to people and talked to her friend for 5 FLIPPIN MINUTES while I was sitting there waiting to work on our tax return. She then turns to me and says, "sorry!!" I look at her with a serious stare and say, 'do you want to do this another time?' she says, 'no sorry!!!!' I say, 'I really want to get this done as soon as possible'. She said ' yeah me too, sorry'. Yeah right. Gosh. I might sound rude but imagine just sitting there with a girl turning her back towards you to talk about boys with her roommate. She did this a number of times during our session and it was like 5pm. I was way mad. Finally we finished. Hopefully we did it right. ANYway. I'm glad I'm married.

Okay, time for the office. I love you all!!!