Cheap Dates

Steve and I are officially an "old married couple" now. Sad, considering we have only been married for 2 years and 4 months. We are both very busy with Steve going to school and working and me working and going to school. Life is busy and tiring so by the time we get home we are too lazy to think of any fun, free/cheap things to do. We went to the library the other night...which I thought was fun.
I am making a request for help. What do you and your spouse do for fun? (Please do not say TV or playing computer games or I will SCREAM!) : )

Washington Trip

This weekend Steven and I got to visit his parents at home in Blaine. It was so fun to get away, even if it was only for a few days. We drove to Boise on Friday night (much cheaper flights) and flew to Seattle first thing on Saturday. Steve's dad picked us up at the airport. I fell asleep for the two hour drive home, which ended up being a very good thing because Steve and his dad saw 14 car accidents due to the snow and ice. We were able to see Steve's nephew, Henry, wrestle at a tournament before heading home. It ended up snowing all day Saturday and Sunday so church was canceled. It was so nice to just relax! Monday we got up very early so we could make it to Seattle in time for Steve's interview at the University of Washington. While he was sweating it, I went with his parents to the mall and Target...what girl could ask for anything more. Then we picked up Steve and went straight to the airport.
I forgot to mention that Seattle had one of its top 10 rainfall days...ever! Traffic was awful and flights were delayed/canceled all over the place. Luckily ours was only 10 minutes late. The flight was a bit bumpy but we made it safely. We ended up staying in Boise last night even though I wanted to get back to my class. Now we are back, sitting in our little apartment, trying to get excited for the day ahead of us tomorrow.

Food, Family, Fun and a COUGAR VICTORY!

Some of our cute nieces and nephews!



I love Thanksgiving! I love hanging out all day, watching football, snacking, talking and cooking. It is the epitome of a happy day. Steve and I were so lucky this year to have the chance to spend the holiday with family. We went to his sister's cabin in Ogden Valley where we stayed with Steve's sister and brother and their families. Steve's parents were also able to come to Utah for the weekend...a rare treat. Although we were missing a few of the Burden clan, we were grateful to hear from them either on Thanksgiving Day or the following day.


Thanksgiving is always a huge feast, but with Steve's sister in charge, this is an understatement. We were literally baking and cooking from 8:00 on Wednesday evening to 3:00 Thursday afternoon. Luckily we took some breaks to watch football and movies (including my favorite...Hairspray!).

Sadly Steven and I had some car troubles, but thanks to the grace of my parents we were able to get my Honda fixed by Friday evening so we could leave on Saturday for the big football game. As Steve and I were getting ready to leave that morning, I had the blonde moment of all blonde moments...I flushed my cell phone down the toilet. Thanks to Steve and his brother Dan's "handimanship" we were able to remove the toilet (yes, the whole thing had to come up) and found my phone in the last turn of the toilet pipe. If it had made it around that final bend...it would have been lost forever. After much drying, the phone is back in action...now it just needs to be sanitized!!!

After that fiasco, Steve and I were on our way back to Provo. We made it just in time to see the start of the big BYU vs. Utah football game. This is the biggest game of the year and always causes some (totally necessary) stress. After three low scoring, nail biting quarters, BYU pulled it out in the end with a clutch touchdown. My throat is still scratching from the strain I put on it for 3 hours yesterday!

What a great weekend!

I Was Bored

Two names you go by:
1. Mrs. Burden/Teacher (I hate being called teacher! I always make my students call me by my name before I respond!)
2. Danielle

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Jeans
2. Purple Shirt

Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1. Laughter
2. Unconditional Love

Two of Your Favorite Things to do:
1. Hang out with Steve
2. Read

Two Things You Want Very Badly at the Moment:
1. One month of free rent
2. A shopping spree at Ikea

Two pets you had/have:
1. A goldfish named Pearl
2. The cutest dog named Mercedes/Sadie

Two people who will fill this out:
1. Courtney???
2. Meredith???

Two things you did last night:
1. Worked on my teacher work sample
2. Watched TV

Two Things you ate last night:
1. Cheese
2. Bologna (the Oscar Meyer variety)

Two people you last talked to:
1. Steve
2. Mom

Two things you're doing/did today:
1. Rearranged my furniture
2. Dishes

Two longest car rides:
1. Blaine, WA to Provo, UT
2. Texas to Utah

Two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Valentine's Day
3. I love them all!

Two favorite beverages:
1. Dr. Pepper
2. Berry Lemonade (when real berries are used)

I Have Been Tagged

Sadly, I too have been tagged. Here are the 7 things about me not everyone will know:
1. I love reading cookbooks. I read them for fun. Often I read them like a magazine or a favorite book. I usually read them on Sunday evenings when there's not much to do and the apartment is quiet. I also love watching cooking shows. I do love to cook but I don't have the time or money to cook like I would like to.
2. I am afraid of spiders. I don't just dislike them...I fear them! They make me want to curl up and die (if they are the big hairy kind). I am at the point now where I can kill small ones on my own, but if I see big ones I am in trouble.
3. I am a clinical hypochondriac. I always think I have something. If I ever read about or hear about a disease or illness I am certain I have it. I have gotten better about this since high school. I believe this is because I no longer live near all of my dad's medical/psychiatric books. (I never thought I had a psychiatric problem, I looked at this one to diagnose everyone else!)
4. I had a tumor in my bone when I was in high school and I had to have it surgically removed. This one is tied to number 3 because my parents just thought I had shin splints or I was over reacting. I felt awesome the day I finally got an x-ray on my leg and there was a lima bean sized spot in my bone. The doctor who reviewed the x-ray told me (in front of both of my parents) that I must be in a lot of pain, and that I had a big growth in my bone! It wasn't cancerous and we still are not sure what it was.
5. I love music. I listen to music all the time. It doesn't really matter what it is as long as I can sing or hum along. I am able to learn anything if it is put to music. I also am very touched by music. If every sacrament meeting were put to music, I would be in heaven. I even had a dream one time that was a musical...it was awesome!
6. I sometimes talk in my sleep. My husband claims that I have whole conversations in my sleep but I want proof of that before I believe it.
7. I am a home body. I love going home and hanging out with my family. This also applies to my home here in Provo. I love spending time at home with Steve, even if we're not doing anything. I have been blessed with such a wonderful family, I almost always will choose spending time with them over time with any one else.

Now that I have this out of the way I will tag....Annie and Leslee!

Time

I have been thinking a lot about time lately. It seems like time is everything. It is something everyone could use more of yet we can never get more than we have. Every year and every event in my life seems to move more and more quickly. It seems like not long ago I was moving to Idaho to begin 8th grade. And it seems like just yesterday that I graduated from high school, when in reality it was just the day before yesterday that I applied for college graduation. I don't know if time is actually/literally moving faster, or if it is just that my life is getting more and more busy with less down time. To those of you older and wiser, I am just wondering if life ever slows down or if it actually speeds up.

For Sale

When Steve and I moved into our latest apartment, which happens to be in a basement, we left moving our couches for last. Unfortunately, our favorite furniture did not fit. Since that fateful day we have been trying to sell this couch and loveseat...to no avail. So I pose this challenge to you. If you hear of anyone who is in need of some rec room couches (or perfect for newlyweds) please send them our way. We are asking $200 and if they live close we would be willing to deliver them.

And so it begins...

Today Steve had his first dental school interview! The interview was at Midwestern in Glendale, AZ. I'm pretty jealous that he got to go because he said it was about 80 degrees there today...perfect! So far he has heard from 3 schools and this has been the only interview offered. Wish us luck over the next couple of months and we will keep you posted!

Life is Good

This weekend Steve and I had the chance to spend time with his brother and sister and their families. We helped at his sister's Halloween party (for 150 people) on Saturday and then attended his niece's blessing today. I have come to the conclusion that we are some of the most lucky people I know. We are so blessed to have family close by who are so willing to help and support us. Both of our families (immediate and extended) have been our saving grace since we got married! So here is a quick thank you to our AMAZING families.
Burdens
Hawkins
Kartchners
Teeples
Mangones
Andersons
Teicherts
Sabeys
Wyatts
Bowlers
THANKS and We Love You!
(Sorry if I forgot anyone...we still love you!!!)

Conference Sunday

Today Steve and I decided that we needed to drive along the Alpine Loop before it closes for the winter. This is one of our most favorite places in Utah! We invited our friends, Parker and Jessie Reid and their daughter, McKinley to join us during the afternoon session of conference. The ride was beautiful!Due to a recent cold front, we have had a few snow storms in the mountains...the effect of which can still be seen in Provo Canyon. The quaking aspen trees looked beautiful!

McKinley did a great job for sitting in her carseat for such a long time! She is such a cutie!


Steve and I took our friends to one of the most beautiful places in Utah we know (aside from Logan Canyon). It is called Cascade Springs and it looks like an oasis in the Utah desert.

Steve and I

Steven and I have now been married for two years and are still loving life! Things haven't always been easy for us, but we certainly had some good times. I love him and I am so glad to have my best friend by my side every day!

This summer we had the chance to go on an Alaskan cruise with my family. It was amazing! On the ship Steve and I were in a gameshow called The Perfect Couple. After a series of crazy and embarrassing challenges, we were voted to be the Norwegian Pearl Perfect Couple...how cheesy is that?!

Well...Here It Is

I have finally given into the draw of the blogging world. As many friends and family have started blogs of their own, I have taken the time to peruse and enjoy. Now I have a place of my own to share a little about the life I share with Steve.
I just told Steve that I was starting this and he looked at me for a second before asking, "What are you going to write about?" I actually have no idea...only time will tell.