Lights, Camera, Action!

So, in case you haven't noticed I haven't posted for an entire semester. Now, this isn't the time for mock faces. It's been one heck of a semester, and when I say "heck" I mean heck. But, luckily we survived, if not barely. Since I'm not even going to attempt to surmise the entire semester I will tell you some of the resent events.
Lights-This Christmas we went to see the lights on temple square, where we were joined by my mom, sister, sister-in-law, mother-in-law and step-father-in-law. Crazy, I know. It's funny how you forget how beautiful it is. It really makes me proud of my Utah roots, too.

Camera-
I turned 24 on the 19th of December. Happy Birthday to me! Actually, I was feeling kind-of glum because #1: I didn't do anything super cool that day in commemoration of the special event, and #2: I'm getting old. How the heck did I get here?? I'm almost a quarter of a century old. Now, I know that might be a silly thing to say, but regardless, I've gotten to that point where I want to stay the same age that I am, or either start going backwards. I have to finish the end of my story, however, and say that my birthday night definitely made up for it. Ashley decorated my bedroom with black crepe paper and balloons, complete with a sign that said, "Because you're so old!" (that's what the pic is of) And then gave me a couple pints of Ben and Jerry's to dr0wn my sorrows with. It worked. Then later Don took me to my favorite restaurant called La Noni, which serves amazing Tuscan Italian food. Soooo good! All -in-all it was a good birthday. So good, in fact, I think I might turn 24 again next year.

Action-
This is a picture of my kitchen. We moved a couple months ago (end of October to be exact) to Millville, Utah. It's about 5 min. south of Logan. This is another reason why I've been to busy to post, that and the FE exam, which I still don't know if I passed...but Don did!! Yeay Don! We found out New Years Eve. And I'm so excited for him! For those of you who aren't familiar with the FE exam it's like the Bar for law students. Other reasons for not posting include a flood in our new apartment, as well as finals. It's been a crazy semester. But, we also have been putting in a kitchen. During this Christmas break Don just barely finished putting in the tile floor, and it looks so good. It's a sight for sore eyes, that's for sure. Although this picture isn't really doing it justice. Right now we're in the process of putting in the cabinets, as you can see. Then we need to finish some electrical work, and make some counter tops, install some appliances, and...presto! Our kitchen will be finished. For someone who likes to bake and cook as much as I do, it seems like it's taking forever. But now I'm to the point that I'm just happy that it's getting done, and coming along so nice. I'll keep you all updated on our kitchen. Don is doing such a great job, and it's wonderful to have a husband who can do things like this.
The semester is starting back up next Monday, Jan. 7th. And hopefully it won't be as brutal. They say that your Junior year is the hardest, so thank goodness that we just finished ours. I have two semesters left, and Don has three if he does the Concurrent program for his Masters, and two if he sticks with his Bachelors and continues to work for Sargent and get his Masters over the next couple of years. Speaking of Sargent, Don got a raise! Yeay!
I will hopefully be going back to UDOT this semester as an intern with benefits. I'll find out in the next month or so if my 95% secure job worked out or not. I'm crossing my fingers because I'm becoming a bitter waitress, and I don't like people half as much as I did when I first started my waitressing career. If I do get the job I'll never have to go back to waitressing again. Well, that's everything in a nutshell! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and New Year! Love and miss you all!

Pottered

I've been Pottered.

Attack of the Cooking Tornado

I have a confession to make. I've become an obsessive cook, and I think that I missed my calling in life. I really should have gone to some culinary school in France, instead of USU's Engineering College. I'm not really passionate about dams and roads. Don't get me wrong, I like it; but I love trying different, new foods. For example, I only work four work days, meaning that I have Friday through Sunday off. This weekend I made: Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Grapefruit Sorbet, Mango-Hazelnut Granola, Apricot Jam, Strawberry-Apricot fruit leather, Amish Friendship bread, and Hummas. Yes, Hummas. I have to get my Middle-Eastern fix in omehow. I've also become fascinated with anything remotely related to the French. They really know their stuff. The other day I made French Cultured Butter. (If only my pioneer ancestors could see me now...) It was actually really good, and I even tried to convince Don that even though it was expensive to make, it was good for you, becuase you know what is going into it, it has a fabolous flavor, AND has a biproduct of buttermilk--two for the price of one! (~Go figure, that's where buttermilk comes from.) I went to the local gardener's market and looked around and surveyed all of the different types of
granola that they were selling there, and none of them could top mine. I might be biased, but I really don't think so. I also found some great herbs to use in my cooking now. I think that this is what happens when you're not really passionate about what you're studying. My extra energy has all gone into something else. Maybe it's just this internship here at UDOT, I'm not sure. I think the fact that I don't have any children would also have something to do with it. At any rate, I have every intention of becoming a gourmet. So if anyone would like to be guinea pigs, just let me know.
**photo curtesy of www.travelerslunchbox.com

Shrine

This is my adorable nephew and niece Madeleine Kate Soule and Jaden Scott Soule, they both belong to Aubrey and she gave me these super-cute pictures that I had to blog!
Jaden is exactly 2 months old in this picture, the handsome little devil, and Madi is 1 year and 9 months old, she's the cutest thing that ever walked the earth.

You've Probably Been Wondering....

So, I realized that I haven't updated this in a while. Things have been a touch busy. Let's see, what's happened since I last blogged? No. That's too much to update. I'll start with the last six weeks. I had a little nephew born about six weeks ago. He came five weeks early, but he was still 6 lbs. 9 oz. not too shabby for a pre-mie. His name is Jaden Scott Soule, and he has me wrapped around his adorable little pinky finger. He has my cheeks. I had cheeks like that until I was 12 years old. While I'm updating you on auntie news, Aubrey's daughter, Maddie, got a hair cut. She kept pulling out and eating it because she liked the texture. And Brinleigh also got a hair cut. Below are pics of my cute little nieces and newphew.
Now that I've told you all of the important news, I'll tell you about Don and I. Two weeks ago Don was put in as the first counselor of the Bishopric, and last week he was released from his old calling. He seems to be pretty busy so far. He also started a new job as an intern for Sergent Engineering, and seems to be enjoying that. He's smart, he's had to learn how to design a structure before actually taking the classes that tell you how to design for dead loads and wind loads. I'm pretty proud of him. We've also picked up paintballing, and I have some nice shinners to prove it. Don's been complaining the past two days that I can't go anymore because it looks like he beats me.
I've also started interning for UDOT. It' s pretty exciting. The other day I paved road at Powder Mountain, which is, I'd like to add, the steepest road int the state. I'm so dang proud. Powder mountain is right by Ogden which is where my office is so I commute and start work bright and early 6 to 4, four days a week. And since I live about 50 min. away by the end of the week I'm pretty worn out. I'm also still in the primary, and last week I dressed up as Lucy Mack Smith, I figured I could pull it off since we were the same height.
We also went to Boulder, CO a few weeks ago for an Engineering Conference which was pretty cool, and I helped my little sis, Ashley, move out of her apartment. She had a sweet pad, and we partied in St. George for a day or two. Anyway, that's enough talk, the pictures are what's really important anyway. I love you all!!