Yeah...so I'm thinkin I need a suit

as in a professional, big-wig, accountant-like suit. Why? Because NO ONE TAKES ME SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! They see a freakin 21 year old face. If you're wondering if that is actually the face that belongs to me, the answer is yes. However, I am a college-freakin-graduate, with a 4-year degree in accounting, and I'm about to close on a house. As in, a house with walls, roof, floors, plumbing, property taxes, you know- the works. Whether or not I look it, I am a RESPONSIBLE ADULT! Let's start from the beginning.

We are buying a house. YES! Exciting. I know. I'm just not going to go into too much detail because I'm still a little on the anxiety stage because I just fear something will go wrong and it wont happen. I doubt that anything will happen, but still- better keep quiet until the keys are in my hand...SO- with buying a house, you have to talk to lenders, insurance agents, etc...to get everything figured out. Lets start with the lender.

She's a woman. Everyone raves about how great she is. We've been reccomended to her from multiple people. WELL- Clay and I walk in and talk to her, and she talks to Clay. As in, chair turned, body turned, eyes turned, ONLY to Clay. She only talks to me if I ask a question or make a comment. Then half the time she answers to Clay- when I ask a question. Cute. I love it when I'm ignored. ESPECIALLY when I am the one that does the number crunching in our family, I'm the one that makes financial decisions, I'm the one she should be talking to! Now, of course I wouldn't want her to ONLY talk to me, like she was doing with Clay. Clay and I are equal partners...it's just that she was acting like I was a complete MORON anytime she did look at me, that I was a little put off. So then there's the insurance agent.

We'll call him John. Why? Cause lets face it, that's his name.

John invites me in his office. He too, looks at me like I'm a child. Clay isn't with me, by the way. I tell him about the house, answer his questions...I tell him, "Yeah, we figured we'd try you guys first becuase we have Auto through you, and so we were assuming we'd get some sort of deal- but you know, we just want the best rate"- he says, "So...I'm guessing your lender has some sort of range she wants you to stay in"- I say, "Yeah, she kinda told us the average price for homeowners insurance so that we wouldn't get ripped off or anything, but she just told us to look around"- He says, "So I'm just curious, how much are you expecting to pay?"

Now I will tell you what I thought, not said- but thought: Do you think I'm a freakin idiot? Like I would ever tell you an actual number- what, so that you can run the numbers, and hike it to whatever price I tell you? I think NOT!

I say, "I don't know, we'll see"- He says, "You don't have any idea?" And gives me the classic, "You're so young and naive-do you know anything?" look. I again say, "Yeah, I don't know, we'll see- so you'll let me know the amount?" Then he says- as if I am no professional, "Yeah it will take a few hours to process...so hopefully I'll be able to call you and let you know within a couple hours". I think, "hm. A few hours? I know for a FACT that you will enter the numbers in your software on your computer, and know within seconds. Don't play me like a fool." But of course, what did I say? "Well, I'm kinda on a time table here, so the sooner the better." He says again, "Well, maybe an hour, but we'll see how it goes". YEAH FREAKIN RIGHT! I work at a place with software on my computer. I know how these things work. It doesn't take two hours to enter in his computer that we are buying X house at X price with X bed and X bath. So, here was the clincher- I stand up and say goodbye, the SECOND, and I mean MILI-SECOND I stand up, his eyes are instantly on my mid section. I hurry and look away, because that's usually what decent people do in a situation like that. You know...then I look back, and he is STILL STARING AT MY REAR-END. No lie. I can promise you that he was staring for 7 straight seconds. I decided I did not want to exaggerate this, so I counted in my head, "one-bananna, two-bannana, three-bananna, four-bannanna, five-bananna, six-bananna, seven-bananna" and by that time, I was out the door of the office so he had no opportunity to keep staring. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Who does that? Obviously this married idiotic man who treats me like a child, but stares at me like I'm 40. Psh. Yeah- I am soooooooooooo done with that. However, he quoted at a GREAT rate, so we'll stick with his business.

So then I go to our lender to give her all our paper-work crap. I'm not with Clayton. I ask her a few questions Clay and I had, and she looks at me like I'm an imbosol. Seriously. I'm not imagining this. It happened. I was so furious by then.

I go back to work, complain to my boss and co-workers, like I always do. They laugh, of course- probably like you are while you're reading this. And my boss says, "You just look young. Because you are." Then he laughs. Then he says he thinks we should make some business cards with my name on it with CPA behind it. I said, "YEAH right". I don't do that. He said that'd make them respect me. I'm pretty sure he was joking. But anyway, he doesn't think a suit will help. I'm pretty sure it will. So......I just might be taking a trip to the DI tomorrow. That's right, the Deseret Industry. If that doesn't work out, Ross. You know why else this all matters? Clients treat me different too. I've been asked if I'm my boss's DAUGHTER. Daughter. As in, his teen-high school daughters. I say, actually no- I'm an accountant here. I just graduated BYU-Idaho in July. They always look shocked. They always think I'm a secretary, and barely EVER trust me. Always asking for others. It is getting better...but not to where I want it to be. At first it didn't bug me...but after today, I think it is going to bug me. I'm pretty sure I deserve respect around here. I just re-read that sentence. I am such a brat. Yes, as in the- 21 year old in her own world BRAT. blah.

Well, on to other things. Dante is freaking HUGE. As in- ginormous. I'm a little nervous for when he's like...up to my chest because he is already getting STRONG. Thank goodness he respects us...for the most part! We went to Salt lake to get this HUMONGO dog crate. It is soooo big. I could sleep in there easy, and barely have leg cramps. If I were homeless, this would be a GREAT home. I'm not even joking. I'll have to post some pics sometime. It was a good deal, and so we had to go and get it...

My back is dying. It hurts from 3:00 on ever stinking day. Sometimes it hurts so bad I just go lay in bed. I need to make an appointment with the Chiropractor. Our even covers it...I'm just too lazy to look up the phone number I think. Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever heard? I think I'll make an appointment tomorrow.

Clay went to Iowa today. It sucks. He was gone last week too...........then I leave on Saturday for Oregon. I am SO excited to go to Oregon, it just stinks being away from Clayton for so long. It's funny- I never feel like it will be bad...but I find that when I drop him off at the airport, before he even steps out of the car I miss him. That is really cheesy, but the SERIOUS truth. It makes me happy that I miss him though. You know? It would probably be bad if I didn't.

We started watching Heroes. Talk about gory. Sawed off sculls with missing brains. However, it is really intriguing...so, we keep watching. What I don't understand, is how Clay can't stand to watch Grey's Anatomy- because of blood...but he has absolutely NO problem with sawed off sculls with missing brains. I'm trying not to think he is demented:)

Well, I wrote this post yesterday and forgot to post it, because I got distracted and did something else. Anyway. That's all!

Mmmmm

The Holidays...

This always seems to happen to me. July hits, and I really honestly do think about Christmas...and how it's about time for Christmas to come by...but I soon get over it and go swimming or something. Then October hits- and I don't even have to see the Christmas decorations in the stores (which I haven't yet), but some internal switch goes on that says, "Let's just skip Halloween and Thanksgiving...and go to Christmas". Today it started. Today it happened. I played my favorite Christmas book on the piano. It always starts with the piano. Then of course, I can't stop there. I have to listen to my Christmas playlist on my zune...pop in my NSYNC christmas CD...watch "White Christmas" a couple times...and before you know it I'll have the tree up the first week of November. Will I always be like this? I don't know. All I know is the Christmas season is WAY too short. As I was thinking this while playing "Over the river and through the woods" on the ancient piano in my in-laws living room, I thought- but wait a minute....if it were longer than a month--none of this would be that exciting. I wouldn't get SO excited everytime. It's the limitation that makes it so wonderful.

Yet, I'm still going to play my Christmas songs. Don't worry- I will wait until Thanksgiving week to put up Christams decor. Hopefully we'll have a house to even put stuff up in.............argh.

So Clay went on his first "business trip" if you want to call it that...this last week. His office went to Boise for a training meeting or something like that. Well anyway, he had to be at the office to leave by 6:50 am- YIKES! And didn't get home until 10pm. Well, I've decided I like it when Clay goes on business trips. Why? Because he brings me home cheesecake from the cheesecake factory. Oh, how I felt like a couple on those movies...you know- when the hubby goes on a business trip, and brings the wife home something--and she jumps with joy and hugs him. Usually it's like a diamond necklace or something like that- well let me tell you...I had just as much, if not MORE joy than those women with diomand jewels when Clay popped out that slice of cheesecake for me. Yep, I think I could get used to these business trips. He is going to Arizona for 3 days in a week or two...for training...and then he is giong to IOWA for 4 days I think...for training...only like 30 people in the country get to go and it's supposedly a privelage of some sort...anyway- Clay got picked to go- he has no idea why, but either way he's excited. But both of these business trips happen before November...and then the first week of November I am going to Oregon...so we are basically going to never be around each other for a few weeks! Poopy. Oh well...we'll survive. I'm sure of it.

Can I ask you something? Did any of you read Catching Fire? The sequel to Hunger Games? Did you like Catching Fire as much as Hunger Games? I didn't. I liked the first a lot better. I'm really hoping the third isn't on the same track...you know- worse than the second. Cause if that's the case...it won't be that great of a book. Catching Fire was good, I really liked it- but it just dragged in a lot of places. Just sayin...

Did you hear that JK Rowling is writing something? She said something like, "I am busy putting pen to paper...and it's not Harry Potter related"- soooooooooooo I'm pretty excited. Anyone who can be brilliant enough to write 7 brilliant books- Harry Potter- is probably bound to write some more brilliant stuff. You have to say "brilliant" when talking about Harry Potter and JK Rowling...cause it just sounds so brittish.

Soooooooooo...let me tell you- David Letterman drives me insane. I HATE the fact that he tried to act noble and crap by publicly admitting to affairs...but turned the affairs into jokes. And I hate even MORE that his ratings have gone up since he admitted his affairs. I have never liked him- because his jokes seem to be more sexually and crudely centered...in comparison with the others (they all do crude jokes and stuff...but letterman seems more than most, to me) and then this happened and I just couldn't believe it! The man drives me mad. If you don't know what I'm talking about- I have to ask...have you been living under a rock? Go to google news...yahoo news...and you're bound to see it.

I have to say- I am really lucky my metabolism is really high still. There are treats in this house 24-7. I am not kidding you- if my metabolism wasn't so high--I would be EXTREMELY overweight. 1) I don't exercise...at all...2) I have no self-discipline, restraint, you know...I never HOLD BACK...3) The treats are ALWAYS good- whether it's homemade baked goods, store-bought treats, nutella, whatever... it's a rarity that a treat is bad tasting around here. I keep telling myself I should exercise...but really? It's kinda not very fun sounding. I do dance all around the house...quite a bit. I always have songs in my head and I can't help but dance to them...so maybe that works off a bit:) There you go- I'm fine. I'll just keep dancin.

Well- I guess that'll be it. I need to blog more. It makes me happy. I need to write a book. I know it'd be stupid and boring- and you guys are like..."uh...hun, I barely made it this far in your BLOG- how could anyone read a book of yours?" but, think about it. Nicholas Sparks, his first book "The Notebook" gave him a $1 million contract. Can you believe that? His FIRST BOOK he ever published. I'm pretty sure I could handle something like that. It's worth a shot:)

Speaking of treats...as I am typing- Patty JUST came in and handed me a treat she just made. Oh dear.

Dante is good. He's kinda in his terrible 2's right now I think. He listens super good sometimes, but then super bad other times. He gets really cranky and acts up A LOT when he is tired and needs a nap. Seriously, he is acting INSANE and not listening to a word we say...we put him in his crate...and he is snoring within a minute. NO exaggeration. None. After we discipline him...like give him a time-out type thing, I get scared he's gonna hate me, but right when I let him go he comes up and cuddles me real quick- I think it's the equivelant of a hug really- he can be the sweetest dog in the world, yet the most hyper crazy dog...overall- he's great. We love him so much. He is so cute. And so big. I keep wondering if I'll think he's so cute when he's full grown. I'm sure I will, but in a different sort of way.

I'm so excited to go to the Coast. I haven't been home in almost a year. The last time I was there was for Christmas. It'll be wonderful to see everyone. It's an added bonus that I won't have to work for a week! That'll be GREAT.

Well- I suppose that's all. Another great thing about the holidays- I found the perfect gifts for my Mom and Patty- lets face it...those are pretty much the most important gifts right? For the mothers? That's how I feel anyway- so I'm pretty dang excited. I'm pretty sure I'll be that type of mom that gets her Christmas shopping done by thanksgiving just cause I get so dang excited so early! I'm sure it'll be different once I have kids and am way busier. I know, I know...I just don't understand yet...

Aight. Peace ouuuuuuuuut.

Dogs...dogs...dogs...and some other stuff too:)

Well this is the best I can do. I know it's hard to tell in the pics, but he's grown a ton! He gains a pound a day. Within a month he'll be double the size. Just look at the pictures of the first day we got him a couple posts ago, and the ones I post today...and he is so big! He is completely potty trained now, and a pretty good dog. He sits, stays, and lays down when we tell him to. He comes pretty well but it's definitely not his forte. He's pretty cute. Thank goodness.



We have another dog in the family too! Rebecca and the girls got a dog from the pound! Her name is Riley, and she is as sweet as can be! It was so fun watching them. They all are totally inlove with her. Gracie calls her "sweety". She says, "Sweety! Come here sweety! You want your bone sweety?" Or she calls her "little girl" or "doggie"...she also calls her Riley too. Riley follows Rebecca EVERYWHERE. Clay says that it's because Rebecca's a good pack leader and that she is taking control, so the dog just automatically wants to be around her. She's a really good dog. She sits and follows commands pretty well. She doesn't bark or jump either...she's just great. Her eyes really are golden. In Rebeccas words, "Don't they look like Edwards?" hahahh. If you don't know that refrence- SHAME ON YOU! Go read twilight.

I'm off....oh yeah. I read the Hunger Games, and Catching Fire. They were so good. I read Hunger Games in literally one day. I couldn't put it down. Catching fire was more like...4 days. We have a bunch of kids here right now and they make it pretty hard to read...they ask questions like...every 5 seconds if your in the same room with them. If you like to read, GO PICK EM UP! They were SUPER good. Did you guys here that "The Host" is going to be a movie? I can't wait! It'll be great. If you don't know, Stephenie Meyer (author of twilight) wrote another book that is different from twilight series, called the Host. I LOVE the host. So so much.

Oh yes- these are crappy pictures, but they are burp rags I've been making for baby showers. Two of my really good friends just had babies. One a girl, one a boy. I made these for them. I love them. They are cotton on front, flannel on back, bias tape bordering around it. They are way harder to make then you'd think.

Basically...I think I might die of anxiety

For this:



Please...let November 20th come quickly.

A lot of catching up to do!

So I realized as I was sifting through the many pictures of Dante....that I suppose I am a bit obsessed. I kept thinking- oh but this is so cute! How do I pick? Oh- he is so sweet. Oh look at him there. So- I'm putting a lot of pics, but honestly- be grateful...this is a LOT LESS than I could've put. I don't know how I'm going to do it when I have a baby.

Here he is the day we got him. I like this pic of me and Clay and the dog.

Here we are each getting to know him...

Clay had both dogs fighting for his attention...(Stetson is the retriever...Patty and Paul's dog)

Here is Clay rolling up the rugs because they are really just asking for accidents to plop right on them:)

Here is Dante a week after we got him...already bigger!

Here is Dante today...2 weeks after we got him...even bigger!

Here are some random ones...I came downstairs to our bedroom to go to bed and Clay was laying on the ground, and Dante was laying on his chest. It really was quite sweet.

Here he is in his little bed. We have him sleep in his crate...but this is a comfy spot for him while he's just layin around. So cute. All in all he is getting better at commands...however sometimes he just kinda goes wild! Like running SO FAST everywhere and SO HYPER! He reminds me of a toddler. Can't keep your eyes off them for a second. Anyway...he is a good puppy and so cute.

I realized that I hadn't blogged about Graduation at all much...and hadn't posted any pics either. Here are a few pics from the big day...



I LOVED my graduation day. I owe it to my parents and Clay's parents and Clay- for that. All of them were constantly saying, "It's your day, what do you want?" I LOVED IT! Clay was so sweet- he kept saying, "I don't know why, I just fee like it's your day...not mine- I want you to get all the attention". He made sure that I walked first onstage cause he wanted to watch me:) We got shaved ice from snoasis after graduation, went to chinese...in fact, the chinese restaurant was closed but Dad, of course, walked up to the door...causing them to open up and say, "How many?...Come on in!" It was wondrous...and delicious. I really really loved walking into the huge auditorium to the graduation song...I LOVED it. I seriously probably looked so goofy because I was trying to force my mouth not to smile so STINKIN HUGE! I was smiling so big because I was so happy. I almost burst to tears. I just felt so accomplished and so cool for wearing the gown and cap. You know- I've never done that before because I graduated early and got married:) So it was a super cool experience. I loved having my parents, Clay's parents, my oldest sister, and Clay's cousin all there to enjoy the experience. I'm sure it was super boring for them- but I loved having them all there. The only downside to the day was that I insisted on wearing my cute red heels and my feet were DEAD by the time the night was over. Seriously- death became them. I was regretting that about 10 minutes after we got on campus. Oh well...I looked cute and that is obviously all that matters in life.

On to more important things. I am pretty much obsessed with a new teen icon: Hannah Montana.

Who knew she was so stinkin awesome? I had no idea! Until I watched "Hannah Montana: The Movie"- I LOVED IT! I loved it even more when Patty got he soundtrack and I put it on my Zune. It wasn't even as cheesy as High School Musical. I totally love it. Where have I been all this time when people were raving about Hannah Montana? I guess I was all up in High School Musical's grill or somethin. Whatev...I have moved on to not bigger or better things, but Hannah Montana. It's a movie I'll definitely have to have for Christmas. I do have to say though that Miley Cyrus is a COMPLETELY different story. She's kinda so so....a little bit on the "teenager trying to be 26 and naked on magazines" kind of girl. So you know- I'm not a fan of Miley, but I'm a fan of Hannah.

Also, I am about to start reading Hunger games- finally jumping on THAT bandwagon. Thank goodness. Where have I been for that too?

I've been reading a series by Anita Stansfield...the Jayson Wolfe series...I forget the names all of a sudden but I'll tell ya later. They are way good as well. There are 5 of them.

Alright- that's it!

Life with a dog...

So...the truth is, I'm really lucky. Clay and I made a deal that if we got a dog, he would have to clean up all the accidents, deal with the crappy parts like waking up in the middle of the night to take him to the bathroom....all that stuff. He is basically in charge of everything that is hard. And he is really living up to that deal. The dog has had accidents, and I haven't cleaned up one of them! I'll tell you about one morning a couple days ago though....

So far, Dante had only peed in the house. Aint no thang. So Clay and I have it worked out so I shower first, then he does second because he doesn't have to leave until an hour after I leave for work. This house only has one bathroom...we have to kinda have schedules. So anyway, Clay had to take Dante to the Vet to get him checked to make sure he was perfectly healthy (which he is). He had to get there by 8:00, so he had to shower before me....well...he tells me he will get up and be out by 7:20 so I can get in right after him. WELL, I end up not being able to get into the bathroom until 7:40. GREAT! So Clay is getting the dog ready to go to the vet when I walk towards the bathroom and squoosh. My bare foot steps in something squishy...I look down and what do you know? I am stepping in FRESH dog poo. So what do I do? Of course, get mad at Clay. And what does he do? Well duh. What would any good husband do? HE LAUGHED HIS HEAD OFF. Oh my. That morning I was TICKED! Yeah. That was really fun.

Dante pretty much has taken over our lives. We have to watch his every move because there is so much stuff around the house and another dog in the house as well, so we have to constantly look at him so that if he chews on something he's not supposed to, you kidna pinch/poke/hit him and say "NO!" We also have to watch out for him so that something like the other day doesn't happen and we don't realize it. If we don't clean up his accidents good, then it will get harder. He will smell his poo or pee, and decide that's where he goes. Once it wasn't cleaned up good enough or something and he went in the same exact spot twice.

Clay has been getting up with him in the middle of the night...to go potty. It started at like 4-5 times a night...now I think it's down to one or two. So that's good. He has already grown. I have some pictures but didn't bring my camera up to load them. Anyway. Sorry. It's not like you guys find this exciting.

Overall, he is still SO cute. He is really sweet most of the time...and when you get him calmed down, he just cuddles up to you like a lil baby. We love it. He gets better every day.

We are still on the house hunt. There was one we wanted really really bad, and thought we would get it- but someone offered more with cash- so they won. We have another one that we think we will find out tuesday or soon after...which we are pretty excited about as well. And we know that we are the only ones that put an offer on that one so far...so hopefully we get it! WELL...that's pretty much it. We work, watch the dog, look at houses...that's it. Pretty exciting!

That's all.