bored.

I've been home sick today and just been messing around with my camera and editing pictures. He's pretty hot huh? :)

Sorry it's so small. I haven't gotten Photoshop yet, so it's just edited on Picnik. It compresses it.

twitterpated.

Chase and I are in a Family Foundations class this semester. This class is centered around the Family Proclamation, with each paragraph being a different unit in the class. We also have to memorize each paragraph as we go. For this class we have to do a capstone project in which we get to choose what to do. Chase is doing a slideshow of family pictures and what not. Kind of telling the story of his family and the way they taught him. I on the other hand decided to write a song. I have no idea why i did this. I am absolutely terrified and have no idea how to even begin. I've decided that if i tried to perform it in front of the class I would most likely start crying haha. No, but i would probably not be able to play the guitar. So, I've decided to video it, and show the class. Here's the thing though, I can't quite decide what to write it on, or how to really write it. I'm thinking about writing a song about Adam and Eve from Eve's perspective, and how they were the first eternal family. How they prepared the way for us all to have knowledge, agency, and sacred covenants. Anyway, we'll see how this turns out. I think i just decided to do this to prove to myself that i could, but as of right now I don't even feel like i can! I've never shared a song that i've written with anyone, mostly because i thought that they were too lame haha. So, we'll see how this all turns out.

Chase just informed me that no one wants to read my blog, they just want pictures. So, I'll post some possibly tonight. Plus, I did get my camera on Saturday! I took pictures all weekend, but none of them very good. I'm so excited for next semester. I'll be taking four art classes, including photography, New Testament, and an environmental stewardship class (required). I'm literally giddy about starting these classes.

No news on a place to live yet. Hopefully we'll get something this week. Wish us luck. Chase's dad asked how we were last night, and we informed him that we were WONDERFUL! He was pretty surprised considering we have no place to live haha, but he just says that's because we're still twitterpated. I'm pretty sure that's true, and I'm not sure we'll ever not be twitterpated. I'm grateful for that.

Love you all. Ali

update.

So, as you all know, our house is to be demolished. After a meeting with our owner today, we were informed that there are no positions to manage with them. As this is disappointing, we are still waiting to hear back from Alexander Apartments (that girls' house i talked about before). We should hear back from them today or tomorrow. It's all so stressful. I have faith and know that it will all work out, but it's just scary to not know where you're going to live in a few weeks. It's so little time to plan. AND I AM A PLANNER. I've been feeling particularly OCD lately. I really do think i am slightly OCD.. everything at work must be in it's proper place on my desk, my planner must be with me at all times, i must have everything figured out and written down, etc. If these things aren't done i will think about them until they are done. My mind can't focus on anything else. I've tried to fight it, but some things must be embraced i suppose. Well anyway, it's probably all of this stress and hubbub lately that hasn't gotten me all Mr. Monkish. I think Chase has probably had enough of it. I'm kind of on edge. Did i mention i have a ten page research paper due on Friday? A paper of which i have about two pages done. I think i need something chocolatey. Sigh.
Well, as soon as this week is over, my paper is done, my camera is here, my test is taken, we have a place to live, etc. a more happy post will come. As for now, these are the updates. Although, I did get a 94% on my test last night, so that is good. I love you all. Pray for this week to end soonish.

The new addition. Well.. It cost as much as a child.

As an answer to Karly's question.... Canon Rebel T2i

Bought fresh today! Thanks to my father for his exceptional eBay skills. Also I love Chase. What's new? I'm so stoked for it to arrive! Bring on the pictures. Love!

the long awaited news X 2

Lately, we have received two pieces of long awaited information:

1. I did not make it into the nursing program. But this is a good thing. I have been struggling with wanting to change my major for a long time now, and now i have the opportunity and i feel so liberated by it. I want to enjoy my time in college and have fun with it as a mom! I am officially a integrated studio art major with an emphasis on photography. I was able to use all of my classes i have taken by creating a minor involving two cluster of psychology, human development, biology, etc. Awesome right?! Chase and i will both graduate in 5 semesters (Fall of 2012). Besides receiving a comfort from the Holy Ghost, Chase will work with high school kids everyday... HELLO SENIOR PICTURES. So, hopefully I'll be able to run my own business and be successful.

2. Our house is going to be torn down. Our tenants, along with us, have to be out by April 15. Although we are sad that our wonderful, full of personality house, as well as the heart of Rexburg is going to be completely demolished, we know it's all going to be alright. Our owner told us that we may be able to be put into another manager position, but she won't know until next week. We'd rather be safe than sorry, so we went into the housing and student living office and found out what other places are looking for managers. We actually already interviewed for one, and we are very excited about it. We would manage 23 girls in one house that is split up into 4 apartments. We would get the whole house next door! (Including a large deck, backyard, front yard, garage, and garden! Hello barbecues!) It would be 450 a month, but then you get paid 8.50 for maintenance and office work, plus 25 for every contract sold. We'd be there in the summer, so there would be lots of lawn mowing, weeding, etc. to reduce our rent. Plus, 450 is like the cheapest you can find in Rexburg, let alone for a whole home. We're really hoping things work out for that, but we're planning on interviewing at a few more places. The fact that we've already been managers puts us ahead of all of the rest of the applicants, so i don't see how we could not get an offer!

Anywho, I just wanted to let you all know what's happening with our situation and hope you all are doing well!

Anyone have a washer and dryer for sale?! (for cheap!)

Love ya!

happiness overwhelms me

There have currently been a few small obsessions in my life. Pinterest, cooking, and DIY.

First of all, Pinterest. Stephanie Berglind this is for you! Chase and I were telling your mom about this and she said we should tell you as well. It's called pinterest.com. It is a website where people pin interesting and wonderful things that inspire them. There are categories such as fashion, home, DIY, etc. It blows my mind, and my wonderful husband has been quite patient with my current obsession. He's actually even gotten a little interested. This brings me into one of the other current obsessions: DIY

Using pinterest has sparked quite the fountain of creativity in my soul. I have found many, many knew things I am planning on doing in our home. I will definitely be blogging about any home beautifying business. BUT last weekend, on one of our weekly DI raids I found a wonderful lamp. It had a nasty flower painted on it, but has really neat metal work on the top and base. $9 people. I've since painted it a dusty blue and have been playing with a few different lamp shade ideas. Before and After pictures are soon to come (once i finalize the lamp shade). I've also got a project lined up for this weekend involving toilet paper rolls! I'm just giving a little sneak preview to keep you on the edge of your seat. Also, I've got a stenciling idea for the walls that Chase and I are both pretty excited about. Plus... Lots and lots of homemade chalkboard paint. Alright, that's enough of the sneak preview.

Now on to my third obsession: cooking. We purchased a Bountiful Basket last weekend and I've had the opportunity to discover some wonderful new recipes and even make up some of my own! Who knew. Taking pictures always seems like the good idea that i never remember until we're done eating. Perhaps I'll start taking pictures and posting recipes.. good idea? Recipe swap my fellow chefs? I think yes.

Now on to other current events.

Nursing: I will find out tomorrow if I made it into the program for spring.
Bittersweet? Yes.
Why? I've been playing around with the idea of changing majors to feed my creative side. College is suppose to be about chasing your dreams and doing what you really enjoy. It's the time is your life that's really suppose to be devoted to you and your goals. I would like to enjoy it. Right? Although, I've come to the conclusion that if I do get in, I will do it. In addition to it though, I will take some beginning photography classes. I know all of you family would love to have a photographer in the family. Ali the nurse/photographer. It would be worth it just to be able to take beautiful pictures of our children. I know that i have the ability to do well in it, and even if I just have the basic I think I could rock it. At least Chase has faith in me. That's all I've needed.

So, that's what I've got to look forward to tomorrow. The determining factor for my future is currently resting at the post office.

But how could i forget?! WINCO TOMORROW.

Chase and I have recently implemented a strict budget to our lives using mint.com. We have been almost all out of groceries for about a week and the start of a new month means that we get to make a trip to Winco tomorrow. I am literally dancing for joy.

Also, we had the amazing experience of having a missionary lesson in our home yesterday with our African friend Abraham. If you don't know the story behind Abraham perhaps I will do another post regarding him. In short, he came here a couple weeks into the semester and we were able to have him live in the boys' house that we manage. He is Pentecostal, but his family wanted him to be at a school with high standards. He is from Ghana and has the most irresistible laugh. We held a missionary lessons in our home yesterday. He asked so many amazing questions about prayer, how to receive answers from God, and most of all what make his religion so different from ours. We were able to bear testimony of the truthfulness of the Spirit, answer to prayer, and the priesthood. We felt the spirit so strong; I fought tears the entire time. At the end of the lesson we asked him to prayer for us. Never in my life have I heard such a pure prayer. It was as though it had come from a man with great knowledge of the gospel. The spirit was working through him, and he was able to feel of it and recognize it. My heart was so full that I honestly can't find words to express it. We are so blessed to have received Abraham in our life, and been given this opportunity to share this gospel with him. He was asked to commit to be baptized in April. I loved his answer: "I will need to pray about this."

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church. I know that God lives, he knows us personally, and he answers prayers. He brought Abraham to us when we were in search of missionary experiences. I hope in turn that we can be an answer for Abraham.

Our next lesson with him is on Friday! OH ALSO JULIE B. BECK CAME HERE ON SATURDAY.

I love you all, and hope all is going well. I'll post more soon. What an awesome week.

NEW HOMEE!!!!! and Christmas and stuff!!!!

So obviously I've been a little behind lately on blogging... but I decided i needed to make time for it today and do a long awaited post. So here's the deal.. our house that we are managing was bought by the Hemmings, which own the Pines, the Cedars, and the other houses on this block. We were the last one. So, they bought our house and then a month or so later they had some managers that got an internship last minute, and they had to leave in 3 days. So, own owner asked us if we'd like to take on a little more responsibility, and get a bigger place. Of course we said YES! We now manage our boys house, and three others of married housing. We now feel like we have a home. Which will make it hard if we have to move back into an apartment type place. We are only guaranteed to live here until April, but they are going to make a decision of whether or not they are going to tear down all these houses and build a new complex, or leave them up. We're praying pretty hard that they'll leave them up! I mean.. we have so much room we could have kids here. It would be so nice to be able to stay until we graduate at least. Plus if they don't tear the houses down, we will paint! (Which i want to do in the kitchen and bathroom especially!) We have been incredibly blessed by our Heavenly Father with this new home and finding such good buys on furniture and everything. We are just in awe everyday of the many blessings we have been given, and we're just trying to live so that we're worthy of these great blessings. Also we're both working wonderful jobs on campus. Chase is back at the special collections office in the library and I am working in the admissions office as a processor of high school transcripts. BUT no more waiting!!! Here's a video of our house! And the debut of my hair cut that i never showed.. don't worry. It's only 2 months later haha! Anyway. Enjoy! I'll also post some pictures back from Christmas and whatnot! Love you guys!

Our tree and hot cocoa!Some caramel brownies! yum...Our Christmas present to ourselves! THE NOOK The hairThe lights on Main Street in Rexburg!The Jamba Juice Banana sculpts these!
We just wanted to illustrate how much snow there is here!!!