In the and of Potatoes

We have made it to Idaho.

It was a long trip, starting off Monday and getting here Tuesday night.

But it was made SOOOOO much better with our moms coming and helping!!! =]

We have spent the last few days unpacking (sort of. We just seem to encounter more stuff at every turn.)

Exploring our new city- which is quite nice really. It seems I am destined for small town life- Rexburg, Chowchilla, Rigby. I am amazed at how now, compared to a year ago, I am calling Rexburg big.

Dealing with tenants and making lists of things needed to be done. (Since we are managing a complex, and old tenants are annoying and there will be lots of painting in my near future.)

And shopping, which I am delighted about! Not the whole spending money part, but the fun treasures we find. Like a picnic basket and an old radio that Joe wants to fix up. =] Oh ya.

We are supper excited about our new ward.

Everyone here has already been super nice.

We are even more excited to get our money from school....but not as excited for school to start.

Joe will be taking 21 credits-which includes 2 chemistry classes. I will be taking 18, reading non-stop.

The way Joe's department is set up, he HAS to finish in 4 semesters, 21 credits each semester, 2 chemistry classes each semester.

It really sort of sucks. But, he is eager to get out of school and start working- and would prefer it this way.

So we are going to do it!

It also makes us a bit happy that his advisor and the teacher for half his classes, is in our ward.

Also, my sisters current mission companion- is from Rexburg. And her dad just happens to be my advisor as well.

Fancy that, huh? =]

So basically, that is what is going on.

Life is happy. =]

Napoleon is LOVING eating and chasing all the grass hoppers running around.

I think he likes our new adjustment.

At least until the snow hits.

And by the way....

This is our 'new' van.

On the road again...

Tomorrow Joe and I are off for Idaho!

And in about a week and a half, we start school.

Then it is a year and a half of straight school, no breaks.

Then, we are done.

Then Joe gets a Job in Hawaii, Guam, or beautiful Central Coast California.

Builds me my dream home.

With lots of land for our puppies (and children of course) to roam around on.

I get a horse.

Write a book.

Save the world.

Sounds good. I wish It didn't take so long to get there!

Today was spent at Oso Flaco.

It was a good day. =]

Love

I love watching Joe clean his tools.

It makes him feel manly.

I love Napoleon.

I really do.

He is just adorable.

Joe says Napoleon likes me more than him.

I am glad.

=]

I love talking to sister missionaries.

They make me feel happy inside.

Especially when they are Tongan (or Polynesian in general)

and they know the "pretty song" I talk about.

And I can say Kau Kau, and we can laugh.

I love waking up in the morning and realizing that I am spooning with Penny.

Not Joe, but his dog.

It's cute really.

Waking up and seeing her cuddling with me.

Precious.

I love aebleskive.

Oh my goodness, have you ever had one?

Go to Danish land.

Eat them.

Love them.

They just very well will make your life better.

I love this conversation:

Joe: Mary, look away from me. Look at me. Away for me. Look at me. Look at Napoleon. I'm a man.

I love the Walmart clown commercial.

Have you seen it?

Watch it.

It will make you smile.

Summer

Coloring books.

Hiking.

Dog Parks.

Fires in the backyard.

Baking.

Sleeping In.

Swimming.

Movies all the time.

Weddings.

Bright Colors.

Flowers.

Fresh Food.

That is my summer. =]

I don't want my fall, which will be filled in with none of the above, and replaced with homework all the time, layers upon layers, and snow all around.

=

Living in Chowchilla made me listen to lots of music.

It made me appreciate words to songs.

Like, "Sounds like life to me"

Got a call last night from an old friend’s wife

Said I hate to bother you

Johnny Ray fell off the wagon

He’s been gone all afternoon

I know my buddy so I drove to Skully’s

And found him at the bar

I say hey man, what’s going on

He said I don’t know where to start

Sarah’s old car’s about to fall apart

And the washer quit last week

We had to put momma in the nursing home

And the baby’s cutting teeth

I didn’t get much work this week

And I got bills to pay

I said I know this ain’t what you wanna hear

But it’s what I’m gonna say

(Chorus)

Sounds like life to me it ain’t no fantasy

It’s just a common case of everyday reality

Man I know it’s tough but you gotta suck it up

To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy

It sounds like life to me

Well his face turned red and he shook his head

He said you don’t understand

Three kids and a wife depend on me

And I’m just one man

To top it off I just found out

That Sarah’s 2 months late

I said hey bartender set us up a round

We need to celebrate

(Chorus)

Sounds like life to me plain old destiny

Yeah the only thing for certain is uncertainty

You gotta hold on tight just enjoy the ride

Get used to all this unpredictability

Sounds like life

Man I know its tough but you gotta suck it up

To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy

Sounds like life to me

Sounds like life

Joe and I are now the (for lack of a better word) proud owners of a mini-van.

After we totaled our car last week (after getting insurance 3 hours before, and now the insurance company thinking we are trying to pull of insurance fraud), it was a bit rough. But hey, we didn't like the car anyway- it just sucks we couldn't have got rid of it in a better way. (like purposefully burning it in a bonfire, maybe? =] )

But hey, sounds like life to me!

We have so much to do. We are finally home, on our BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA COAST for 2 weeks, relaxing before school. But things are still bombarding us:

-Insurance agents

-Financial aid

-Moving to Idaho

-Making time to visit all our family and friends

-Errands that are boring

-Training our puppy (who is adorably sleeping next to me! =])

Sounds like life to me!

My family. =]

(Penny and Napoleon on our way to Yosemitte! They LOVE it up there!)

(You have to have some fun when you have a MAC. =] )

I really just love this boy

It is one of "those" days.

One of those days where I want to drop everything I am doing.

(Grocery shopping, packing, Frontierville, FB stalking, netflix watching, cleaning) and run away to the mountains.

I want to be alone with my boy.

I want to be loved, and I don't want to care about anything else.

I don't want to think about the car that Joe and I totaled on Friday.

I don't want to think about the call we have to make to insurance:

"Hello- you know how we JUST got insurance from you? Ya, well 3 hours later- we totaled our car."

I don't want to feel connected to FB and everyone else's lives. (Somehow Facebook just makes you feel obligated to their weddings, babies, photos and what ever else.)

I want to lay in the grass and feel the sun shinning on me.

I want to lay in a lake and float all day.

I want to look in his gorgeous brown eyes and smile.

"So this is love"

I just want to love him.

With nobody else around to interfere. To give an opinion on what love means, who love who more, who is the best, what matters or what ever else is going on with people in the world.

I want to hold him. I want to be with him. I want to watch him sleep, and smile that I am so LUCKY to have him. =]

And him too of course. =]

Favorite Time

I love sunrise.

Sunsets too.

But there is something about the sun waking up

Because EVERYONE is quiet

and everything is still

and it is so peaceful

and it is just breath taking.

(Yosemite. BEAUTIFUL. Isn't it?)