Twilight

Well, Patty lent me this book. I started it yesterday and finished today! Yikes, you know how I told you I would only read it on the treadmill or something- I didn't exercise either days. Also, I procrastinated homework and acted very irresponsibly reading for many hours- last night until 1:00am!!! I really just couldn't put it down. I loved it. I am really really hoping that Patty has the next one already. Even if she hasn't read it yet, she reads so stinking fast I know I'll have it soon. BUT- that is if she has it. What if she doesn't?! I will find out tomorrow. It will be okay. I have to PROMISE myself to pace myself when reading the next couple books.

About the book. Those who haven't read it are okay to read this part- I don't give anything away.

I really just loved the emotions the book brought out of me. So many times I was reminded of emotions flown in high school, or even my first semester at college. Just plain old single days. The emotions of boys and girls interacting and falling inlove. It is very well written. I think the book is way creative and not a hard read AT ALL, but still so good.

Those that HAVE read it, read on. Those that HAVEN'T, -go read the book and THEN read this.

Warning again!!! Spoilers....

Okay, I have only read twilight so don't give anything away if you've read the others. All I really want to say is why doesn't Edward just get it over with and make her a vampire?! It would make them both so much happier wouldn't it? But then again, I wonder if all the wonderfulness could fade if they were on equal grounds...I don't know. THEN- I can't stop thinking, he is like 100 years old and she is like...18. I know it works, but it is still kind of weird if you really think about it. Lets see....ummmmm I think Edward is so sweet and Bella is sooooooo typical and realistic. I love her paranoid moments and her clumsiness. Basically, I love romance stories, and this is a good one! So many good moments. They better make movies out of this.

Excitement in the Phillipp Apartement!

Note the hole in my husbands left sock. He has TONS of socks, all without holes in the toe; yet he still INSISTS on wearing THIS pair of socks....he claims they just fit right. hmmmm

Alright. I don't know how many of you truly know of the phenomenon called "HALO". Well, if you don't I am surprised. Halo is a video game. I am pretty sure it is where you kill aliens and stuff. ANYway- my husband has never owned Halo 1 or Halo 2 but has played them at what are called: "Halo Parties". Yes, there are parties where men of all ages go and play into early hours of the MORNING! Well, Clay has thought it is WAY fun but he's never been one of those psycho addicts that play ALL THE TIME. He is very in control. So anyway, Halo 3 came out a couple weeks ago. Clay was actually invited to a party but never got the phone call because his phone got shut off THAT day (his store is switching companies) so he hasn't been able to play it and has been DYING to see how it is. Everyone and their dog has said how amazing it is, so that didn't help. He had decided he would donate plasma for it, but never really got around to it. But today he was able to sell 2 of his personal old cell phones and gained enough money to buy it! We swiftly went to Wal-mart and they had it in! He came home, opened it with a smile on his face and moved our comfy papasan chair infront of the tv to have an ultimate Halo experience. I just had to share the image. Life doesn't get much better for a boy huh? I guess I could go get him some Doritos...but he probably wouldn't want to get his controller dirty.

While on the topic of video games, I want to give my opinion of them. So many people think they are evil and the root of all violence, but I have to disagree. YES- I think that video games CAN be a bad thing, as all things can be a bad thing. The internet can become an addiction and a bad thing, tv, food, anything. My husband, thank goodness, has never been addicted to video games and has ALWAYS been in control of it and always stopped playing if I asked him to spend time with me. When played for as hobby and leisure I believe it is perfectly okay. Men naturally love to be heros and when they play video games, they are able to accomplish that feeling. I know that may sound funny, but I think it is true. When they play video games, they are able to become heros! If anything, I think that video games are more cathartic rather than encouraging aggressivenes. It lets their aggression OUT and may in fact prevent an act of violence. Obviously there are exceptions, but I really don't think video games are the root of all evil. I think they are a good way for men to bond and work their brains and feel good about themselves. I am sure many of you disagree, and that is okay. I just wanted to express my feelings because there is SO much stereotypical thoughts towards "gamers". I think my husband is completely healthy and NOT violent or damaged in anyway by playing videogames.

Anyway. Now that I have finished my persuasive argument on video games, I will tell you about the upcoming weekend. We are going to clay's cousin amanda's house to scrapbook all night, and clay will play video games all night. We will spend the night and do some more in the morning. It will be fun, but I don't know if I really have many pictures to scrap book. I am thinking of printing off the ones that mom put on her blog of when we were in oregon. OH yeah, and the camping ones. I guess there are a few I could do. I think i'll make cards too. Anyway, I'm excited. Another fun thing is I got these Betty Crocker cookie mixes from albertsons for a dollar each. I think the sale ended today. But I figured it usually costs more than a dollar after you've made a whole batch of cookies, and Patty had this mix and made them this last weekend and they were DELISH! I'm way excited. I also got lots of soup- Progresso, for a dollar each.

I bet this is all boring for you. SOrry. This is my journal though. The lack of enthusiasm for school has not left me. It has only increased. Clay and I are taking a Business Law class together. Let me tell you- it is B-O-R-I-N-G! I can't stand it. I want to scream everytime we are in class because I am so stinking bored. I just keep telling myself: I will never have to take this class again. After this semester, it is done......

Alright, love you all. By the way I think my new nephew Miles is so cute. I wish I could see him in person! If you haven't seen pics, look on Amy or Megan's blog.

Snow and Deorations

This is our witch in the window that I got from marthastweart.com. She is really a lot cooler than she looks. The real benefit is for the people who see her from outside. At night time the light shines through our window so people outside think there is a witch flying through the sky. She is THAT realistic. hehehe. Anyway, the tape isn't really as obvious as it is in the picture, I think the flash made them a lot more obvious.



This is my little display on our entertainment center. I am planning on putting up more cobwebs but I didn't have time. I also plan on getting one more candle from the dollar tree to go on the other side of the boo! blocks. Again, it looks better in person, but it is really fun you have to admit. I made the blocks and the head:-) The head I also got the idea from marthastewart.com. I just love martha, I don't care if she did go to jail.



This is the decoration I was so excited to get from the dollar tree. The horn thing was $1, and the flowers are 2 different bushels that I mixed, so the whole decoration ended up being $3!!! Isn't that amazing? I know I always say this, but it is so true, that it looks WAY better in person. Anyway, I love it.
Now for our snow experience.

WELL- thank goodness we made it to Idaho Falls okay!!! It normally takes 30 minutes to get here...today it took us an entire hour, possibly more! We were going sooo slow and almost got in a wreck twice. First, a car who wasn't far infront of us started spinning around in circles and thank goodness, my amazing idaho husband was so calm and slowly swerved around the car safely and got RIGHT back on the road. 3 minutes later, our car decided to spin and we were driving sideways, literally, and there were cars right behind us so it was very scary, but Clay again, became a calm superman and knew just what to do. Right away he turned the wheel towards where we were spinning and gained control and quickly got us back on track. I was so impressed. BUT, I still got way scared and got tears in my eyes. It just isn't very comforting to see my husband turning the wheel completely upside down and see that we are still going straight. Thankfully, it has calmed down and it looks like we'll be fine on the road tomorrow...unless it decides to blizzard again. The snow flakes were SOOOOO HUGE! Clay said they were probably bigger than he'd ever seen and that is saying something considering he's lived in Idaho his whole life.

The weekend...FINALLY!

Well, my stresses have decreased, thank goodness! I have taken 2 of the three tests, and the thrid test I don't have to take until monday, so I am feeling good. I am done with classes for the week and conference is coming up and I CAN'T WAIT! I really hope I turn into a better person after this weekend because I have really just been feeling like I'm not doing good enough lately. I know you are probably thinking I'm crazy, but that is just because you don't know all of my personal thoughts and daily activities. Basically I just want to be better, so hopefully I will get a lot out of it. I am sure I will with that attitude, right?

Well, I will say that i was COMPLETELY satisfied with my Accounting and Economics scores. I don't know what my real score is for accounting because there is a write on portion, but the score I did find out is 82% of the total score. Don't confuse this with the score I got, I am not saying I got 82%, I am saying that...ah, it is too hard to explain...I'm sure you can figure it out. Anyhow, I got A's on both. I'm way pumped. Business Law on the other hand...comes on Monday, I don't know if I will be as blessed with that one. I'm really grateful becuase I prayed really really hard that I would do well on both exams, and I studied really well an even reminded Heavenly Father that I studied (like He didn't know) and I turned out doing great. I am hoping if I study really really well for Business Law this weekend, which I plan on doing (between conferences-the dang teacher making a test after conference weekend...ugh) then Heavenly Father will be merciful and let me get a good grade. The class is kind of hard, she also said that the stuff we've covered so far is easier and more introductory, so expect harder. UGH- I HATE IT WHEN TEACHERS SAY THAT! They seem to always say those things when I am feeling that I am not smart enough because the material is so hard. Oh well, whatever.

FINALLY I get to go get the decor that I have been wanting to get. I am really hoping the thing at the dollar store is still there, Kristen, my good friend, warned me that they would sell fast, but I thought- hey it's the dollar store, I doubt it. We'll see I guess. I am also getting cobwebs and spiders to put on our entertainment center with our scary manican head. You will all get to see it. I am SOOO excited! I love decorations.

While on the topic of Halloween, my religion teacher said he hates halloween and thinks it's pointless because there is no substantial value in it. One guy raised his hand and said that last year they did treat-or-tricking, where they went to people's houses and gave THEM candy. I thought that was a nice idea. But if everyone does that, then there will be no one at the houses to collect the candy. Maybe not because it really is the same thing- not EVERY member of the family would leave to go treat-or-tricking. Do you love reading these arguments I have with myself? Geez.

So- some FABULOUS NEWS. Don't worry, I'm not pregnant. Our TV is like over 10 years old, we got it form Clay's parents. It's still a good tv, it's just that one of the speakers is broken and the other one isn't that great. So...it is kind of irritating watching movies because half the time we pause and are like- what did they say? So after Clay tried to convince me and I declined the offer to buy a 47" tv that was "SUCH a good deal", he tried convincing me of getting a nice receiver, and some cheap speakers. This would cost a great deal less, and would actually be investing our money for our future sound system. Clay claims these things last a long time, just like tv's and so it would be a good investment becuase we could gradually add good speakers to it. SO- Clay was talking to his wonderful cousins fiance (i think...amanda? i am never quite sure:-) about sound systems becuase he is knowlegable about these things, and after a while of talking to him, Leif (the guy he was talking to) said, 'well Clay, I don't know if you want to do this or not but I was thinking of just giving you ours'. Clay: 'what?!' Leif:' well I have been wanting to upgrade, so I mean, unless you don't want to, you can just have ours'. There surround sound is only 3 years old and very nice. So...obviously, we accepted. We offered to pay SOMEthing (obviously not full price...probably whatever we could afford) , they wouldn't take anything. Basically we are getting a free sound system, not a crappy one, a good one. These are the same people who gave us our couch, papasan chair, and they gave clay an awesome game for his birthday that was like 60 bucks. They are SOOO generous to us. We are very very grateful.

Well, that is about it for my life. We are going to Clay's family's house for saturday and spending the night for sunday. It will be nice. Patty always has delicious treats around that I can never stop munching on and they always treat us amazingly nice. I'm grateful we have such good people around us.

Lastly, Patty bought the twilight series, the ones that EVERYone is talking about- she is lending them to me when she is done. I CAN'T WAIT! I decided I will read them when I work out- ONLY when I work out. It will motivate me to work out. See? I hope it works. ha..

OKAY- this was long. I love you all! Expect a post with pictures today or tomorrow.

Blah

So, I am just going to start with the complaints. Sorry, but I have to. I have THREE tests to take in the next THREE days. Microeconomics, Intermediate Fianancial Accounting, and Business Law. I am not too worried about the first, but the last two are kicking my bum. I have decided I am DONE WITH SCHOOL! Don't worry, I don't mean I'm dropping out, I just mean I am so sick of it and I know it's just because it's getting really really hard and I just wish I could stay home and sew and paint and bake and CLEAN- yes, I even wish I could stay home and CLEAN! I have been soooo stinking busy this week I haven't had a chance to put away our laundry that we had done sunday. ugh. I feel like there is no time. I wanted to work out this week but there was no time. I wanted to go get some decorations from the dollar store with my fun money this month but have no time. You're probably thinking- why are you blogging then? Because I just got done homework, don't feel like studying, and the one thing I DO need to do, is read my business law book but Clay is taking that class too and he is reading right now. The price we pay for saving money I guess. I really am feeling discouraged because in my first two accounting classes I was like, top of my class above average, SO CONFIDENT in myself. Now....not so much. I am in a group of boys that are all geniuses. Seriously, all of them got 95 or higher on our first exam. I'm not joking. There are 5 of them. I got an 87. Thank GOODNESS I got an extra 5 points because our group average was the highest, so that bumped my score to a 90. Anyway, I am always confused, and they always get it, and it has gotten to the point where once I know something and try to talk, they don't even care about what I have to say because they KNOW I am not as smart as them. Ugh. Then I am in the process of applying for internships and calling people and interviewing. I'm sorry for complaining, I just have to let things out sometimes. Also, I don't know if I can take all of you saying how smart I am anymore because I'll just be thinking, you don't know what I got on my last test, you don't know how smart everyone else is, you don't really know if I'm smart. I know an 87% isn't so bad, but that was the class average. The professor said that the average will most likely be 10% lower every other test. If I am doing average, that means I'll be getting C's. Not cool.

Anyway, on a lighter note- our really good friends are moving into our complex. Zane and Kristen. She is 19 so she is like me, young and married. She also loves crafts so we enjoy eachother. Also, I have a ton of cute things I am going to decorate my place with, I guess not as much as Amy and Mike, but more than I did last year, and I am wayyyy excited. I will post pics once it's all decorated. Lastly, I am so stinking excited for thanksgiving. I know it's like 2 months away still, but Rebecca invited us to spend it with them, POSSIBLY in the cabin, so I am sooo excited. We were able to have dinner with them Sunday, they are all so cute. Aliese wrote the cutest story about parents getting their way in making their kids eat fruits and vegetables. Anna was all over Clay as usual. He was very patient with her, I was impressed! And Gracie was of course perfect. She is getting bigger ALL the time. I am so mad because I forgot my camera and I specifically wanted to bring it so I could get pics for everyone to see.

Well, I really hope you still love me after this. I really do have a good life and am so grateful, I have just been stressed lately. I really want a break because my unfinished quilt is sitting right next to me and I am dying to finish it. I love it and I know it will be wonderful once it's finished. Someday.

Also, I just wanted to say to any of my sisters that may be confused about the nosehairs freezing- it's not like snot running down your face frozen. Don't imagine the scene from dumb and dumber. It is like, you go outside and suddenly you feel like there is something in your nose. You pick at it and nothing comes out and you can't feel anything but it literally feels like a booger is sticking out of your nose. You walk inside and your nose is runny and it doesn't feel that way anymore. That is the sensation of frozen nose hairs. In winter, it is almost instant as you walk outside and instantly thawed as you walk indoors. It's weird.

Alright, I love you all!!!

Funny...

I just thought we should add a little humor into our blog. Hope you like it.
Clay

Welcome Winter!

Well, it has arrived. On September 29, I look out the window as I shiver in my robe and see snow. Yes, snow. I don't get it. We didn't even get a fall. Yesterday it was 76 degrees! Today it is obviously freezing. Great. At least it's not sticking yet. Soon comes the time for scraping off windows, digging out the car, squeezing my nostrils together to thaw my nose hairs (yes, they actually freeze-it is a very weird sensation) and eat lots of chicken noodle soup. I hope you all enjoy your leaves and crisp breezes while I enjoy the below zero ice winds that cut through you like a knife! The great thing is, campus is under HUGE construction meaning the route to classes is even longer. What a joy Rexburg is in the winter time. BUT, alas, I do love it here. It is a wonderful town. I have just been dreading this time of year for a while now and now that it has come, in SEPTEMBER, I am a little sad.

PS- You know how when you look up the weather they have little pictures of sun, clouds, rain...or snow? Well, this was the picture I saw for rexburgs weather:)