Uh...

Uh...I'm embarrassed. It's been over 3 1/2 months since I last posted. In my defense, we don't have internet at home and thus blogging would require that I go to campus and when I'm there, I better be studying right? Well, let's recap on our lives since beginning of Sept. At the very end of August, I started my first semester in the Dental Hygiene program at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.  James started an internship 3-4 days a week in Boise with Dr. Nelson, an oral surgeon.  I was really nervous for these classes and was feeling very NOT confident.  Uh...since when? But as it went on I was really killing it.  I LOVE my program.  I love my classmates and my instructors and I'm loving what I'm learning.  Well, after James was done with his internship he started studying for the DAT {Dental Admissions Test}. Where he studied anywhere from 8-9 hours or so. Crazy. Which he then took and ROCKED. No pun intended. For Thanksgiving we went down to Las Vegas to visit my dad and Pam for the day then drove back to St. George for the BIG Ence Family Reunion. Where we filled those days learning about my ancestors and shooting competitions and dutch oven food, etc.  We went back to the grind of studying. I then finished up my finals strong and drove out to Boise to spend Christmas with James' family.  So not a whole lot that others might find exciting.  Who am I kidding? We haven't been exciting at all.  Maybe that'll change. I promise to TRY to be better about keeping my peeps in the loop.  Oh and I forgot...we got a cat! He is still just a baby and his name is Bronco, but we just call him kit kit.

Pics Natalie Bleazard took of us!

There he is

a little sleepy

Stare down with some squirrels 

First time meeting Greyer, my adorable nephew!

Greyer on his first motorcycle ride

Jamesies on his ride

and my turn

My first time meeting the other new nephew, Elliott. So handsome. 

Still there?

Yes.  Believe it or not, we still have a blog.  Just haven't been writing on it.
Boy, has a lot happened since the last time I wrote on this blog thing, but here it goes.  To some up our last month or so into 1 word, it would be this word...CRAZY.  I started packing up our home {with the help of my Bonus-mom and my mom} at the beginning of the month, just a little at a time.  I quit my job on July 17, and it was a bitter sweet goodbye {to never return}.  And then I spent the next week finishing packing {w/ mom} and cleaning {w/mom}.  man what would I ever do w/o her?  On friday, James became a graduate of Brigham Young University Idaho, with a degree in Exercise Physiology.  So James' whole family came over to celebrate with us and to help us make the move.  yikes.  Saturday morning, we quickly did some finishing cleaning touches and then we were off towards Twin Falls {and our new home}.  We unloaded and then James was off to Boise with his family.  Meanwhile, my mom and I just spent the evening unpacking a little and then shopping!  Sunday, we were in Boise to attend Jason's {James' lil' bro} "farewell".  Monday, we were back in Twin.  Tuesday, on our way to Salt Lake.  Wednesday, said goodbye to Jay :( and then back in Twin later that day.  It's been somewhat of a whirl wind.  I will be starting school at the end of the month and we are just trying to settle into our "new" life.  And after all of this I've come to one important conclusion.  Moving stinks.

Of course some quick pics.

Disaster

Yay!

whoot whoot

A really pretty sunset at our new apartment

Harry, our new pet. {as long as he says outside!}

A ROCK'n Weekend

Has it really been over 2 MONTHS since I've last posted on this blog of mine? Yes.  Oh My.  Well, what better way to get back into the groove by blogging about our fun family weekend!  This last Friday, James' whole family came over to Eastern Idaho for Staci's baby shower. {did i mention how excited we all are to meet the new little Princess Anna {how cute is that!}.  We had a family dinner over at the Starnes' home and spent the evening playing out in the yard on the tramp and playing catch and making/eating smores.  Yum.  I then drove home to sleep at home, while James stayed the night so he could wake up at the crack of dawn to golf. Boys.  Saturday was the day of the baby shower!!!  It was so fun and so cute to see all of the little girl stuff that Staci got.  Baby stuff is just so cute. It makes you want one...NOT YET! We then spent that evening in Rexburg at the splash park and eating frozen custard from Nielson's.  Yum.  Again.  It was so much fun being able to spend time with the family! and excited to see them again soon.

Picture Time!

The whole group

Presents!

Presents!

Nat and Carter on the marry-go-round

Big Bryan and Lil' Bryan

Lou and Parks

Carter seemed to really love it!

James throwin the baseball 

Dal "hangin out" to dry

Lou and Dal layin out

This is the "what?" face

Shenanigans

Best. Weekend. Ever.
Goals accomplished.  Dreams made.  Bonds strengthened.  Lives changed.  I sure hope you are ready for a play by play. {here it comes...}
The weekend was first kicked off on thursday, after work I went to Idaho falls to get my hair color redone {got it done previous week, trying to go back to more of my natural hair color but it turned sort of reddish...} so now it is more brownish!  Coming home I checked the mail {as I had been doing ever since my interview}  No letter but I finally got my NEW SHOES {see previous blog post}  I was just soooo thrilled that they FINALLY came! {2 awesome things in the same day!}
Friday, I got up and ready and drove to Idaho Falls again {I can now do that drive in my sleep! zzzzz} to pick up my mom! It's her first time coming out here since we've been married!  Had lunch at Red Robin {YUM} then spent the afternoon shopping around {please note that leggings and slippers were left at home! Once again...see previous post}.   Of course two nights previous I bought our Hunger Games tickets for the 3:00 showing {so James could come}.  So after lunch and shopping we sat in the theater {right smack dab in the middle} until the movie started.  The movie was GREAT! I. Loved. It. {obviously not as good as the book, but they did do an excellent job, all things considered} The rest of the evening was spent grocery shopping and then out to eat at our favorite restaurant Da Pineapple Grill where we feasted on delectable sushi!

Saturday, We slept in {stayed up way too late!} My mom and I went out searching for a sewing machine because we were on a mission to complete "PINTEREST PROJECTS"!  We found one and bought material for my first project {an adorable camera strap cover...pictures will be shown at the end...} We then met up for lunch with James and his sister Staci at Gator Jacks {it was my first time there and I got the Philly Cheesesteak, and it wasn't half bad!}  Then went home to start on our crafts!  After James got home from studying for the day, we made an attempt to go out to Mesa Falls and hike around.  Nope!  We could only make it part way up the mountain before we ran into a HUGE snowbank! {this happened to us last April, you'd think we would learn} But we decided instead to head towards Driggs, Idaho just to look around.  We then came home and finished my CAMERA STRAP COVER {i love it} and then tried to make my Easter decorations.  This activity was quite interesting.  We took regular eggs and poked holes in both ends.  We then put our lips over one hole and blew as hard as we could {with gentle hands} until the whole thing came out.  {NASTY!} but it had to be done!  The eggs were then covered in glue dots and rolled in glitter.  They turned out really cute!  


Sunday, We went to church {at the singles ward} and then over too our other ward just to drop off tithing, then headed home.  After pulling in, I decided to check and see if we had gotten anything in the mail...and we did...it was a letter from College of Southern Idaho.  Without sharing that I got the letter, I decided to just open it while I was walking back towards the apartment.  Well, long story short, it said that I was accepted into their Dental Hygiene Program for Fall 2012 {I was sooooo excited, I wish we could've gotten a picture of my face when I opened that!}.  I just looked over at my mom and she kinda gave me a weird look for a second then said, "You got in, didn't you?!"  {woot woot} You better believe we went into the living room and jumped up and down and danced around.  James still didn't know yet though.  So I left it open on the counter for when he got home.  He walks in, looks directly at the letter and then...puts his cell phone and wallet on it...{HE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT!} So all I said was, "you gonna read it?".  He too was so excited! SO that is our big news! We will be moving to Twin Falls, Idaho this summer for the fall semester!  


Monday, was a sad day.  We went to the fabric store and then just hung around at home until it was time to take my mom to the airport... :(  It was so much fun having her here to visit!  

The First camera strap, made just from cotton fabric

This one is made of minky {super soft!}

This is the "blowing eggs"...nasty!

Birthday Blast

Yeehaw I'm 23 years old!!! My birthday was this last thursday {March the 15th}.  It wasn't quite what I expected...in fact not what I had expected at all.
A few weeks prior, I submitted a "time off request" at work.  I figured that I might as well ask for MY BIRTHDAY off since thursday are pretty busy and we might want to go out that night.  Well, the schedule come out and I DON'T HAVE IT OFF!!! {what the heck!?} I quickly point this out to my manager {who's fault it is}, while he is trying to figure out what happened, I notice that I have an opening shift that day {ok, I might as well work that morning...} I tell him to forget about it.
A week later I get a phone call from College of Southern Idaho {CSI, Hygiene Program that I am applying to} and they want to interview...on MY BIRTHDAY! {oh shoot}  Fortunately I was able to get my manager to let me leave work early {since it was his fault}.  So this is how my day went

6:00 am - 11:00 am = work
11:15am = get ready for interview
12:00pm-2:50pm = drive to Twin Falls Idaho
3:20pm-4:20pm = Interview
4:30pm- 7:30pm=drive Home
8:00pm =meet up with the Hubby for some dinner

So for MY BIRTHDAY James got me the shoes I've been wanting for forever! So since I was driving all day {and hadn't planned on stopping for shopping and dinner} I was just wearing leggings {scandalous} and slippers and a Boise State sweatshirt.  I had asked James to bring me some jeans and shoes, BUT he forgot! {seriously...kill me}  I was so tired and now embarrassed by what I was wearing and growing slightly grumpy...I just picked the closest restaurant that I wouldn't be totally mortified wearing this outfit at.  RED ROBIN {delicious yes...what I really wanted?...not really}  But it was awesome non the less!  We then stayed up a little later and James told me he was willing to watch TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN part 1...{I'm in shock right now...} so I took him up on it.  I had to do it while I could.  He is such a good sport.  He really made my Birthday special.  It was a long day but had an enjoyable evening with my husband!

Here they are...my new shoes! Yay!

Slightly Obsessed

The Hunger Games.  Enough said.

A year ago I dove into these books and got lost in the greatness.  These books changed me {ok ok I might be getting a LITTLE dramatic...}.  But something about this story gets to me.  After I read a series, I usually take a few days to let it all sink in and just ponder the story I just read.  It's almost like I have to say to my self, "You know what...I like that story.  And I like the ending".  Well The Hunger Games took a little more than a few days, it was more like a few weeks!  Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE this series. But a few things bother me.  In the end, she {Katniss} ended up with who I wanted {yay yay yay, for those who haven't read it, I'm not telling you who it is!} it just didn't end how I had wanted {it was realistic so I can't really complain! But the little girl inside me is always looking for an overly happy and cheesy ending}  Anyways,  a year later, I've once again finished the series {In just a matter of days} and can't seem to get it off my mind again.   Back to square one!  And now I'm just waiting for the movie to come out. {One more week!} I've been watching all of the trailers and reading about the actors and all that jazz.  I won't be seeing the midnight premier because I'm too old {I don't mean this maturity wise, but because I literally can't stay up past midnight, and I would definitely fall asleep} But I am so so so excited!  These books definitely go down as one of my favorites!  For those who are among the first to ever see it, enjoy! May the odds be ever in your favor in finding a good seat!

There is no Z in Boise...

After months of being away, we finally made a trip back to James' parents home in B-town for President's Day.  And we weren't the only one's with that idea...The Starnes' {James' sis and fam} as well as James' little bro Jason came home too! So the family was there!  James' buddies Preston and Michael and Jessi {Michael's wife} made the trip as well.
Our weekend festivities kicked off Friday evening with a trip to Merritt's. For those who don't know {as most of you don't} Merritt's is an...interesting place.  It is the opposite of fancy, I opposite of clean and might be the opposite of what maybe FDA approved {I'm totally exaggerating} my point is, it's a HOLE.IN.THE.WALL. BUT they serve the most delicious scones known to man.
While waiting for our scones to arrive, a song started playing on the juke-box that was to be non other than the song Nathan Starnes {bro. in-law} performed in ipod idol...quickly realizing this we began to sing...what is this wonderful song? Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.  This song was apparently a crowd favorite because in no time at all...we were ALL singing!  To sum it all up, Merritt's was a grand ol' time.

On Saturday we made our way across Boise to have brunch as Nat & Robby's new home.  It is seriously an adorable house!  They have it decorated so beautifully {now that I'm thinking about it, I don't think I got any pics of the house while there...} but we spent the first half of the day there and even fit in a round of Ipod Idol {a family favorite, where someone puts in headphones and a blindfold and perform the song that is being blasted in their ears, chosen by someone else}.  Let me tell you, it was hilarious to watch everyone perform, especially Grandma EE and her dancing, it was...epic.  We then went home and prepared for our date night with Michael, Jessi, Preston and his girl for the night, Genevieve and Jason Rock.  We went to Wahooz and went go-karting {which we were so excited until about half way through when our faces and fingers were on the verge of FALLING OFF!} we did some mini-golf, lazer tag {with a bunch of 12 year old girls, with the motto of "girls are vicious, boys are un-delicious"} and of course some arcade games.  All in all, it was a blast!

Sunday was just spent going to church and spending most of the day with the family.  We played a few rounds of apples to apples before going over to James' long time childhood friend Kyle Hansen's for a few hours.  We had a good time talking with him and his dad as well as Preston too.

Monday was another hang out day until our drive home back to the Burg.

Picture Time!

Michael, James and Jay

The Crew before getting in the karts!

Preston practicing his modeling on the course

Jay and Preston

James, Preston and Kyle

Some close up JPK action

James catching Z's

Yes, Nate, James and Jason all wearing grey striped shirts

Classy Classy

Harry Potter World

Random Post:
Don't be fooled by the title of this post {No, we did not go to Harry Potter World in Florida}.  This is simply the world my imagination has been residing in for the last couple of weeks.  Having never read these magical {no pun intended} books, but LOVING the movies, I decided that I was going to take the journey and finish this series.  I was able to borrow the 1st and 2nd from my cousin but now own all of them on my Kindle app on the Ipad!  I've now just finished with The Goblet of Fire (4) and on to Order of the Phoenix (5)! { I now know what all the hype was about, kinda wish I had read these forever ago like everyone else!}.  I don't know if you can tell, but I'm pretty ecstatic about this!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Christmas oh Christmas, how much I love you.  This holiday season has been absolutely amazing.  It was our 2nd Christmas together and our first time spending it with my family.  It was the first time James met my brother Bryant {who is in the military and just doesn't get leave very often} and his first time splitting a holiday between two households.  It has been two years since all of us we able to spend a holiday together {minus my sister Paige, on account that she had a baby only a week or two before so couldn't be there}.  I seriously can't describe how much fun it was.

Thursday:

We first started off the festivities by going to the Maaco Bowl to watch Kellen Moore and the Boise State Broncos dominate ASU in their last game of the year.  James was SUPER excited and it was a bitter/sweet time for him.  It was my first time, however, and I was just stoked.  I was thankful it was held in Vegas because; 1) we didn't have to travel far 2) so it wasn't anywhere colder where i would freeze my tushy off!  We had great seats, but of course we just HAD to be sitting in front of the biggest jerk at the game.  I could understand someone yelling/cheering for his or her team, but this guy decided to bash on BSU by yelling TCU {BIG NO NO} and he even bashed on ASU {Um, excuse me sir, why are you here?}.  Anyways, he was shut up real quick even after the first kickoff return {if you haven't seen it, look it up, it was priceless}. Ok ok, i'll stop talking about it and just move on, but first here are some pics!

First present, I had to give it to him before the game!

Kellen Moore, throwin' a few to warm up

Yup, those are the blue Elvis' 

About to score...

Don't be fooled by my appearance in this picture, I am wearing Boise State gear

Friday:

We just spent most of the morning at my Mom's house just spending time with her until it was time for our Christmas activity with my Dad and Bonus Mom {Pam}.  I must say I am quite impressed that NONE of us had any idea what we were doing that night, my dad and Pam had successfully kept it a secret from EVERYONE.  Nothing slipped out.  So as we are all getting ready to leave and my dad saying, "There aren't enough seats so two people are going to have to sit in the very back..." while discussing who was going to be the ones in the back and walking out to the car we come to find a limo at the end of our driveway...{Thought in my head: "WHHAAATTT...?"} I had never been in one and must admit I was surprised.  After loading in (all 9 of us) it was announced that we would be going to 4 destinations and 1st stop was the Bellagio Buffet {YUMMY!}.  If you have not ever been there, i highly suggest splurging one night for dinner and experiencing it.  After stuffing our faces we get back into the limo and headed "somewhere", we didn't know where yet.  Then Pam passed out maps and envelopes to everyone.  They were maps of the Outlet Mall and there was money in the envelopes.  We were given one hour to go find something we would like to buy {I promise you, we have never done this before}.  James found some sweatshirts and I got myself a new peacoat.  After that, we then went out to the motor speedway to see some of the light displays put on by different companies around the valley.  Then we made our way up to the temple.  This was one of the best parts.  It was special, taking the time away from the city and after the worldly fun , to come up to the place that really matters and where we need to keep our focus on.  We then headed home, AFTER stopping for dessert at Serendipity 3 off of the strip.  Overall, it was a fun/memorable night.  

Santa Hats! Before the festivities...

(I don't have any of the Limo Pics, so they will have to be posted at a later date)

Saturday: 

Today was my mom's turn to have us.  So in the afternoon we went over to her house and where greeted by all of my step siblings, my real siblings and my grandparents {whom I haven't seen since our wedding}.  That whole day, Blair {step dad} and my mom had cooked the MOST DELICIOUS fried chicken I have ever had {and it was made in a dutch oven...man, I got to get me one of those!}  and there was dutch oven potatoes and cobbler {you can't make dutch oven dinner and NOT make cobbler}.  Then we just spent a few hours talking/playing with the family before having a white elephant exchange {I swear, James scored at every single one we participated.  Only because everything we both got, applied to him.  For example: Tools}.  We then went bowling with just my mom, Blair, Chase, Kortney, James, Me and my adorable niece Camille.  Overall, It was an awesome evening!

Picture Time!

Man, she is so stinkin' cute

She really liked the camera

Enjoying the food!

Family Photo infront of the Tree

I believe I can fly...

showin us how it's done

Mom and Blair

Sunday:  

We all attended my mom's ward first so we could watch her sing in the choir, then went back to her house to open some presents.  My mom had gotten me a REALLY cute pea-coat and I LOVE it! {picture will have to be added at a later date, seeing how I'M not looking as cute as it is, right now} I also got this awesomely huge stock pot, and I'm quite excited to use it!  After leaving her house, we headed over to my dad's ward to watch my step mom sing! {Man, everyone is in a choir!} It was cool cause, Pam's parents {not mormon} were able to go to church with us and sing along.  Anyways, after that we headed back to their place for more present action.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera ready {because I was surprised myself} when James had seen that we opened up an ipad.  He was shocked and I'm not sure I've seen someone so surprised!  

He is in Love

Monday: 

 This day was spent with family.  We went to a movie {war horse} and lunch with my mom and Blair.  And just spent some time at their house.  Later, at my dad's house, we watched "White Christmas". {I know, I know, it was after Christmas.  But not by much! AND James had never seen it before.  I wasn't about to wait another year for him to see it}  

Tuesday: We said our "Good-byes" and headed home

Overall: We had such a wonderful time this Christmas in Vegas with my family.  We are so thankful for the wonderful parents that we have and for our awesome siblings.  We are truly blessed for all that we have been given and for all the love and support that they give us also.  I hope that we can strive everyday to show them how much they mean to us.  Thank you!  We Love You!

P.S. I'm writing this blog post on my family room floor in the fetal position {James makes fun, but hey, it's kinda comfy right now.  Random I know.}