Cornbelly's

Last weekend, Nick and I went with one of his old mission friends, Jake, and his girlfriend, Corinne, to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point. Nick and I went last year, but I would have to say that this year was even more fun!

This is Nick.

This is me.

This is us.

This is really cute of you guys! (sorry it took me so long to put them up!)

We had so much fun!

They look so great together. I don't know why Nick chose me. They look so much better than we do as a couple.

Riding this thing was $5 so we just had to pretend to be riding it.

Jake and Corinne.

Nick. He looks a little too happy to be on that fake bull if you ask me.

We went and ate at Zupas afterward and had some really good soup. It was a really fun date. Thanks for going with us Jake and Corinne.

Tonight we have our ward Halloween party. Since I am on the committee, we will be going and dressing up. Don't be too jealous. So there will be more fun halloween pictures soon to come!!

A Nice Surprise!

I can't even tell you how excited I am. Lately we have been talking to my dad about going to visit him and Jen in Wichita for Thanksgiving. My sisters are trying to all make it out and so it could possibly be the whole family together for a holiday. Well I haven't been back home to Kansas in almost 2 years, and so when my dad told us that he was going to fly us out for Thanksgiving, I got so excited. Well that was last night, and I am still just as excited.

I have been talking to Nick about Wichita since I met him over 4 years ago, and told him about how someday I would get him there to visit and see where I spent 15 years of my life living. Pretty much the only place I can remember ever living. Now, when I was about to graduate, I couldn't wait to leave Kansas. But just like everyone said, I do miss it so much. It was a great place to grow up. So, thats the exciting news. I finally get to introduce Nick to my hometown.

I can't wait and I hope that the rest of my family gets to make it out too!

When the family gets together...we have lots of fun!

When I heard that my Mom and Charlie were making a quick trip to Arizona to visit my sisters, I didn't really want to go. (Sorry guys!) But I was going to be off of work, it was practically a free ride down, and I didn't feel ready to be away from Nick quite yet. Stupid? Yes, but I really love my husband and being around him. And every time I go somewhere, my crazy mind always thinks of the worst thing that could happen (normally thinking about death) and I end up worrying constantly.

Nick finally convinced me to go, and I am glad I did. It was a nice change of scenery from this cold place. We drove part way on Wednesday night and stayed in a hotel. Then we arrived at Shenna's in Phoenix on Thursday morning. Shenna had just had a birthday so she got money to buy some clothes for her new gorgeous figure. (She has lost 25 pounds on weight watchers in the past couple months!) She and I found a few cute new shirts that look awes

ome on her. We spent the rest of that night playing with Madi and Alex. Those girls are so sweet and cute. They were definitely excited to have visitors.

Me and the birthday girl

The girls with Charlie

Shenna has "guitar hero". We played and it was so much fun. Especially since we got my mom to play. She really wasn't that bad. I, however, was not good at all.

We went to the Arizona State Fair on Friday night and had fun walking around and watching Madi go on a couple rides. They had all sorts of animals and a petting zoo thing. I'm pretty sure I saw the world's largest bunny rabbit. I swear this thing was like three feet long and two feet tall. Pretty creepy actually. But we had tons of fun there.

The story of how I went crazy:

We woke up early on Saturday to go up to Andrea's house. I hadn't heard from Nick since I had woken up and knew he was planning to get up early to go hang out with Jon and Karina all day. I tried calling a few times while driving to Prescott, but I had no luck. I started getting a little worried since we are always good about calling or texting. I decided I was just being a little crazy since I tend to worry a little too much. (See top paragraph) Then about twenty minutes later, Nick's dad calls from his visit in Washington, wondering if I had heard from Nick. I hadn't and told him I was worried. It turns out Jon called Dave because Nick was on his way to Jon's house and was more than an hour late and no one could get a hold of him.

I immediately broke down and I was so worried that something had happened. I knew something had. I felt it when I hadn't heard anything all morning. Jon and Karina left their house to go and look for him. My heart sunk. I felt so sick and I was such a wreck. We got to Andrea's house twenty minutes later and I went inside crying. I'm sure the kids were so confused because they were so excited to see us, and I came in so crazy. Andrea took me into the other room and said a prayer with me. She prayed that nothing was seriously wrong and that he wasn't hurt in any way. I couldn't think of any scenario in my head that would make him not hurt, but somehow I felt a good feeling. I began to look online at her house trying to find out if there were any accidents in Utah on the freeway. I called the Utah Highway Patrol trying to find out more information. I found nothing.

I kept saying out loud that I knew I should have stayed home and nothing would have happened. I could have been there looking and helping to find him. Being so far away was hard. I called Karina and talked to her while they were looking. I asked if they had found anything yet. She said "No, we are almost to your house. What's your address?"

I gave it to her, and then she says "Oh! Nick is calling Jon right now!!! I will tell him to call you."

What a relief!!!

He called just seconds later to tell me he had stopped by the gas station to return a redbox movie he had got the night before. He left the car on and accidentally locked the keys in. His phone, wallet and everything he needed were in the car. He had had ten different people try to break in since we live in that nice kind of area where people really do know how. He even told me one guy said "I can normally do this!" Ha. So the good news was:

He was alright.

No harm, no injuries.

No one will be breaking into our car anytime soon.

Bad news:

We had to pay $90 for the locksmith across the street to open the car. What a ripoff!

Landon and I

After I regained composure, I was able to play with the kids and had a great rest of the trip! Matt was sick with a chest cold, so my mom and charlie decided to stay at a hotel. Since no one visits Chino Valley, AZ we were able to take the kids swimming at the indoor pool. It was fun. Poor Landon had blue lips and was shivering by the time he got out, but still wanted to swim.

We ate at this great Mexican restaurant. It is Nick's favorite and I even offered to bring some home in the cooler for him. He declined the offer.

Landon having fun!

Ava

We shopped a little that night, and had fun watching Ava play with the "titty" (kitty). If you saw how she held that thing you would wonder how the cat resisted murder. But for some reason or another, it loves her. Overall, I am so glad I got a chance to see my family. I miss having sisters close by, but am glad we have some of Nick's family and my Mom, Charlie, and Scott nearby. Thanks for letting us stay with you all! Can't wait to visit again.

A Walker Party

A couple of weeks ago, the Walkers got together to celebrate Dave's birthday. We had fun hanging out with everyone and picking out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch and eating pie.

We played a few games that were really fun! It is so nice living close to family!

Jon and Karina, Amy and Rob, and Nick and I all got him pretty much the same thing. So now he has three nice zip up sweatshirts for winter. It was funny when he opened them all up and found the same thing in each bag.

Overall we have been having a fun fall, and look forward to carving our pumpkins soon.

Brad, Dierks, and Jimmy

Nick was very nice in purchasing us tickets in May to go to the Brad Paisley concert. Anyone who knows me knows that he is my favorite country artist. Since he found out the first day they went on sale, we got some really really close tickets! He is not really a country fan, but he went along with me and I think he enjoyed it as well. The other two artists with Brad were Jimmy Wayne and Dierks Bentley. I like Dierks a lot too.

On September 19th, I got all dressed up with my boots and hat for the concert and off we went.
We had 14th row tickets and I was so excited. After the first two performers were done, they let everyone in the front section go up next to the stage for Brad's performance. By then I was ecstatic. I really was going crazy. As you can see in the following pictures, I was really close to him. I didn't touch him at all, but I did catch a guitar pick he threw right at me. Because I'm sure he saw me and was actually throwing it to me. (I'm just dreaming actually.) And then Nick got a pick from one of the guitarists who threw out a bunch of them. This was by far the most exciting concert I have ever gone to. I also loved that I was probably one of the only ones who knew all the words to his songs.

Our tickets with the guitar picks. (The one Brad touched is the top one.
Let me know if you want to touch it.)

While I was singing and in awe, Nick was noticing that Brad changed out his guitar on almost every song, and each was definitely custom made with paisleys on them.

This shows just how close we were! This was my favorite guitar.

He is definitely really talented.

During one of the last songs, the other two performers came out and sang with him. Jimmy Wayne went crowd surfing close by. As you can see here, he is about to jump.

During his last song, Brad gave away his cowboy hat. He did this at the other concert I went to of his, and I just know that one of these times, I'll be the lucky one!!! Nick knows that if that were to happen, It probably would never come off. Or as he would say "replace him". Nothing ever could.

Besides the concert, I got the Harmons job and will be starting soon. Nick is taking his GRE test this Friday, so wish him luck, and then all his applications will be complete!! Its so exciting that he is getting to take the next step in his education. For any who are wondering, these are the six schools he is applying to.

Notre Dame
Ohio State University
University of North Carolina
University of Colorado
University of Oregon
University of California at Santa Barbara

His top choice is Notre Dame, but we won't find out for at least 5 months we're guessing.

We are really enjoying the relaxing conference weekend with family, and other than that, we are keeping busy with school and work! Life is busy but great. And happy 5 months to us!! HURRAY!

Oh, and for those following our weight loss, Nick has lost 12 pounds as of yesterday, and I'm down 7 pounds! Our exercise has done wonders for our energy and our bodies. I have to say I really do feel pretty great! That's all for now!

A Nation United - September 11, 2001

So, I know I'm copying both older sisters by posting about this, but I am a day late anyway due to no internet.

I can't believe it has been eight years. I remember that morning sitting in my freshman Geography class. We were in the classroom when my teacher all of a sudden ran up to the t.v. and turned it on. There, we saw the devastation of a plane crashing into the first tower. I couldn't even comprehend what was going on. It probably took me twenty minutes with all the chaos to realize that a commercial flight from the U.S. crashed into the Twin Towers in New York.

My teacher started running down the hall telling each teacher to turn on their t.v. He told us to go into the library where we witnessed the second plane crasy and watched it until class was over an hour later. Then our wonderful (not) principal told the teachers not to turn them on the rest of the day so that we could focus. I don't know how anyone could focus after something like that. I was so angry when we were told. Throughout the day, I heard of the other planes that had gone down. Four planes. Taken over by terrorists willing to die for what?

My dad was supposed to fly to Canada that day. I heard that all planes had been grounded, but I knew he was supposed to leave that morning. I had no idea what to even think. I knew that the other planes were commercial, but didn't know what anyone was capable of. I was called to the office around lunch time with a note that my mom called and said that my dad had not taken off. His flight was cancelled. I felt so much relief and remember saying a thankful prayer in my head. I called my mom and she wanted to know if I needed to come home. I said I was fine staying at school, but that I wished they would let us watch what was happening. I felt so lost.

That night, I remember going home in my room, at 14 years old, and just crying. It was my third week of high school, and I was so stressed and scared. People were talking about how Wichita would be a great target for terrorists since it was the "air capitol of the world." I was so terrified and worried about all my family. I knew Andrea was hysterical, and to say the least, it didn't make me feel any better. I knelt down and I said a prayer once again. I felt the most peaceful feeling come over me. I heard a voice clearly in my head that said, "You have nothing to be scared of, my child, for you are safe with me." I felt peace, but I just cried more. Knowing that I am safe with my Heavenly Father is the most comforting thing.

That day was a terrifying and horrible day. But I will forever remeber the things I learned that day. I was so greatful then for my knowledge of the gospel. It helped keep me calm. I felt terrible for those who were so close to the incident. People who could see others jumping from fourty-plus floors up to keep from burning to death. People who saw others running from the building completely on fire. People who died saving others. People who helped others make their inevitable death more comforting. People who took over a plane filled with terrorists and crashed it into a field, giving their own lives to save thousands more. There were so many heros on that day. So many people who could only think of others and not themselves. Seeing stranger be so christlike- what an amazing thing to be a part of and witness.

I remember thinking that day that I would never get some of those images out of my head. I had nightmares for awhile, but they have gone away. I thought that every year that passes, the memory of that day would be forgotten, but as I drove around yesterday, I saw flags in yards, people with their red, white, and blue on, and I saw so many that did remember. I know I will always remember that day. I will remember the feelings I felt for my family, for those in New York, for those all over the world, who felt some sort of impact by that day. I love this country. I love my family. And I love my Heavenly Father and the Gospel, and the comfort it gave me through that horrible time.

He's back

Scott came home last night! Well, actually we went and picked him up in Salt Lake at the mission home. It was so exciting. I now have my back popper back. He is one of the only people who can pop my back right. HURRAY! We're glad to have you home, brother!

I have even more good news! I am needing to get a second job for financial reasons, and so on Tuesday, I applied at the Harmon's pharmacy right down the street. I like this store, and I applied there because it seems nice and quiet. Well, I am just going to try to do part time for awhile and they called me today and were wanting to know what kind of shifts I could work. I told them I could pretty much work anything as long as its not from 6 to 4:30 on my weeks on. So, they are going to call me back and set up an interview time. We have been praying that we could work something out to get Nick through school faster and to be able to afford it. I think this is just the thing we have been asking for.
Nick can now finish school at BYU by June, and then if we stick to it and work hard, we can get all his applications finished by December for graduate school and head out next fall to who knows where!?!?!?! It's actually really exciting and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else.

I'm sorry for these lame blog posts, but I am really having a hard time finding time to upload the tons of pictures that I do have. Hopefully this weekend. Seriously.

Lastly, we have new neighbors. Dogs seem to be a theme in our neighborhood. Not 1, but 2 dogs per household. And they are all pitbulls, or other furocious dogs. [Or gay dogs like the ones across the street. Who live next to the adult lesbians. Sick. Sorry, not to offend anyone, but we came home to them making out in their front yard two days ago. ] So anyway, these new neighbors have two dogs as well and it just so happens that our house is the back fence for their yard. With our bedroom windows staring straight into those nasty dogs' eyes. These dogs are the world's most annoying dogs ever. (Sorry Andrea, I know you think your dogs qualify, but they do not.) They will bark at ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. No matter what time it is. It was 3 in the morning and they were barking at the streetlight for like 20 minutes. I hate them. If this continues for much longer, the city will be getting a phone call for a complaint. Anyways, pictures to come soon.