Relaxing Mountains and Beaches

Ahh, school is over...for the semester...we start again in a week. Boo. Good ol' summer school. But, you do what you've gotta do. We are now waiting on our grades. We both passed math, now we just have to see what we get in Biology. I think the outlook is good.

Since I last wrote, we went and spent Easter weekend with Tim's family in Clayton, WA. We were on our way up there when Tim informed me that his grandparents had no idea we were even coming. It was quite the surprise when we arrived Thursday morning. When we approached the front door, all you could hear was a screech of happiness and see Tim's grandmother go running around the corner to greet us. It reminded us of when a dog tries running around a corner on a wood floor and the legs move, but they don't. It was cute.

We spent the weekend enjoying the peace of the mountains and making projects in Grandpa's woodshop. It was really nice to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa, as well as see other relatives, aunts and uncles. Tim's dad came into town a few days earlier than he said he would, so we all gave the grandparents good several surprises that weekend.

Today I told Tim that I am in major need of a vacation but that we don't have the time or money for one, so Tim came home and surprised me with one. He brought me a palm tree, a few leis and spread out a towel for me to "lay out on the beach" on. It was really sweet. I am married to the best man. How I love him. =)

Welcome Home!

Today was an important day, it may in fact warrant a new holiday. Today my car came home! Norah, my Nissan Altima, completed her repairs, and after 6 months of being shut up and engineless in The Parent's garage, she is home. Over the past 6 months we have been attempting to get her fixed, however anything and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. We thought it was the head that only needing fixing, however once that was fixed we realized that we needed an entire engine (blah!). Then it was the hunt of finding a good engine. We finally found one, but then on it's way up to Utah, the truck that was transporting it was in an accident (go figure!) so then the engine was no bueno, and we had to begin the hunt again. At last we found another and took it to The Parents. Then being the great men that they are, Brad, James and Tim all spent their entire day off on Wednesday working on her. And after putting a new battery in her this evening, we drove her home, like proud parents of a new baby!
Oh, I've missed my car. It is as though I have a new car, but was reunited with an old friend all at once. So let's all begin to celebrate April 2 as Norah day and give this day the due it deserves.

Vigilance! Constant Vigilance!

Tim and I celebrated 6 months of marriage a few days ago. Honestly, the 6 months went by so fast, I was thinking it was like 4. But to think it has been half a year already is quite fantastic. It is a manifestation of the old adage, "time flies when you are having fun" and we have definitely been having fun.

However, to the outsider there is not much to report in those 6 months of marriage: school, cats, new jeep, broken washer, new kitchen table, still broken car, tv addiction...you know, the basics of new married life.

Though there are some unfortunate aspects of time passing so quickly:

• When one says, "we can do that in a few months" and next thing you know, its been a few months and you still don't have the money or time
• Time everywhere has passed quickly and events that seem like they took place last week really took place months ago
• And the WORST of all: people will expect you to start having kids soon (which by the way, I am still attempting to dispel the rumor started on Facebook that am prego. I AM NOT PREGNANT!!!)

Wanted or not, time is going to pass regardless. But I have decided that am going to attempt to keep track of it more vigilantly. And while keeping track, I shall make the most of it while my husband and I continue to have many, many months of marriage ahead of us. =)

Out With The Old, In With The New

Recently Tim and I decided that we need to reduce our 4 vehicles to 2 as there are only 2 drivers in our little family. We decided that we should sell his motorcycle and truck and my scooter and find vehicles we can both drive.

We listed Tim's motorcycle for sale, however, no one was interested. But a couple weeks ago, Tim attempted to list it again, and within a day or two we sold it. Regardless of what Tim says, I know he was sad to see it go (and I was too...I loved riding with him). The next day we found a '98 Jeep Wrangler for a killer deal and couldn't pass it up. We are now proud owners of a "new to us" Wranger. Though, I will say that my brother, Thomas, seems quite thrilled for us to have one. He owned a Wrangler years ago and I know he misses it, and he will be able to re-live those days vicariously through us.

We now need to: a) Get my car fixed; (it has been broken and sitting all dejected and lonely like in my parents garage; b) Sell Tim's truck and, c) sell my scooter.

My poor car is closer to getting fixed now than it has been in the last 5 months. We FINALLY have the engine all ready to set in, we just need to find some time for Tim and Brad to do so. Am hoping it gets done soon. I want my car back. It'll be like am getting a new car!

I guess with the new year, and the extra cash that the tax return seems to offer, we have the "new to us" car fever. And hopefully, as we attempt to see the truck and the scoot, we'll find others that have the same fever.

The Singing Telegram

We have all seen it done, on television, or on the Silver Screen, however, I have never seen it actually done. Until Friday around 2:30 in the afternoon.

It was the day before the infamous Valentine's Day, where husbands and boyfriends alike demonstrate their love for that special woman in their lives. This is usually done by the sending of flowers or chocolates, the romantic dinner or the perfectly planned out marriage proposal. All of which are cliches, which, deep down inside, every woman is thinking of and hoping for (though most of which will deny it to their graves).
I, however, was quite surprised at what my husband of nearly 5 months devised. I was surprised, but as I look back on it, I shouldn't have been, for it was just like something he would do.

I was going about my typical work day, not anticipating the roses or the flowers, as my husband tends to do these things sans the need of a holiday to profess his love, and I found no need for him to do such on this day. That afternoon the receptionist knocked on the door to the training room and asked if she could interrupt for a moment. I didn't think anything of it until I saw the massive crowd gathered outside the door and four men dressed in tuxedos proceed to enter the room. I hoped that they weren't there for me, but deep down inside I knew that they were.

They presented me with 5 roses (1 representing each month Tim and I have been married thus far) and then they serenaded me with 2 cheesy songs that were once written with the sole purpose of professing an undying and an unconditional love for another.

As they sang these songs in perfect 4 part harmony, as my huge audience gathered around and as the initial embarrassment of the current situation wore off, the reality of what it all meant buried itself deep down into my little heart. And I couldn't hold back the tears that rolled unashamedly down my cheeks as I thought of my husband, and what he means to me. It wasn't the fact that he delivered more than just roses to commemorate this day of love, but it was the fact that he will do whatever it takes to let me know just how much he loves me. This brief moment hit me pretty hard.

Not meaning to sound cliche or mushy or to discourage you to continue reading this, I cannot express how truly, madly and deeply that I love Timothy. As our Valentine weekend continued, the fact that I love him and he loves me right back was only made more evident to me by our time together. We didn't have the perfect candlelight dinner with all the extras that many women did (which I in no way object to), but this was my best Valentine's Day yet. I was able to spend every moment of it with my husband, the man I love with all my heart. And I get to spend every day with him. We don't need a day put aside to show that we love each other, we have each day to do so. I am incredibly happy to have found him. He is my life and I look forward to spending the rest of mine with him.

Timothy set a high standard for all the husbands and boyfriends at my employment that day.
It's not every day that a girl is delivered a singing telegram. It was however, a day that will remain noted as one of the thousands of ways that my husband has shown me how he loves me so.

Evidence of That Wonderful Day

Us

The Parents

The Siblings

The Joy

Recent Happenings

Tim and I are both engaged in school this semester. We are taking the same classes; math, biology and a biology lab.
Its enjoyable to take classes with your husband for you have your own study group and you get to spend time together in doing so. Tim is very study oriented. I, however, have always been the procrastinator, so its a good thing I have Tim, or I wouldn't study nearly as much.

At the beginning of this month I left Tim at home and ran in the Walt Disney World Marathon and a Half. It was quite intense (see www.firecatmaren.blogspot.com for all the details) but I completed my 39.3 miles and have 3 medals to prove it. Running somehow weaseled its way into my life, and now I shall have a life long love affair with it. I actually roped Tim into doing the Salt Lake Half Marathon (13.1 miles) with me in April. I am excited to share my passion with my Tim, and enjoy that together as well.

We watched the Super Bowl with my family and we all were saddened as the Cardinals lost. And tomorrow we'll continue the Groundhog Day tradition of watching "Groundhog Day" as a family.

We continue to work and press through school. Life is good. Stressful at times, but its all part of the adventure.