Swim Meet

The week after the BYU-I championship swim meet, we got invited by the Utah State University Master Club Swim Team to compete against them in a dual meet. We were all very excited and continued to train for 2 additional weeks. When we arrived at the pool, we were all impressed with the fact that they had touch pads and a scoreboard! I have not been able to swim with touch pads in a long, long time! Not only did they have high-class equipment (compared to BYU-I), but when I jumped in the pool, I discovered that the water temperature was kept at competition temp...about 5-10 degrees colder than the pool here at BYU-I. It was very cold, but it made me feel like I am still a legitimate swimmer!

I swam the 200 yd backstroke, with a time of 2:35. I have not swam that event since high school, over 4 years ago. My best time back in the day was a 2:18. So less than a 20 second gain is good enough for me!

Here is a picture of everybody who went to the meet.

Happy Black Friday!

Today I experienced my first Black Friday ever! The one day of the year that it is normal to wait outside in the freezing, Idaho cold for hours on end!

We went to bed around 11:30pm and woke up at 2:45am to drive to Idaho Falls from Rexburg, a 30 minute drive. We went with our friends, Brian & Tara Johnson. They dropped us off at Wal-Mart around 3:45 where we hunted for the movies that we wanted, and we got 5 movies for $20. Andrew and I then walked down the street to Target and stood in line for 30 minutes before it opened. Once the store opened, we got inside and once again searched the store for a few more movies, and we only got 2 more. I almost got trampled by some impatient shoppers and their carts! The Johnsons picked us up and we all headed over to the mall, for more shopping. By this time, it was only about 5:30 in the morning, and the lines were already dying down at the mall. I got some new pants and a new shirt, and we bought a new game: Ticket to Ride - Marklin (Germany). (We have already played it twice today since we got home.) After we finished at the mall, the Johnson's wanted to make one more stop at Fred Myers for some good deals on socks. We made it back to Rexburg before 9:30 am.

I don't know why I have never gone shopping on Black Friday before, but the madness is what makes it such a great experience! I am very tempted to make it a tradition, it's pretty exciting!

Now for an update on our lives:

We graduate in 1 MONTH!!! We are pretty excited to be done with school! After we graduate, Andrew will be taking a 2nd internship with a tax firm in St. George, UT. He will then probably have to go to grad school for another year. I will be working as a secretary at the same office during the tax season. We are pretty excited to both have jobs for at least the first 3 months after we graduate.

My swim team here at BYU-I won championships! It was pretty exciting and it is only the 2nd championship team that I have been on here at BYU-I. The first championship team I was on was my very first semester here, Fall 2005. It was very sweet to be on the championship team for my very first and very last semesters.
As swimmers of Rexburg, we got invited to swim against Utah State's club swim team in Logan, UT. The meet is on Dec. 5 @ 2pm at the USU's swimming pool. I'm pretty excited to have one last howrah with all my good friends from the swim program!

Another Month

So I guess I should update this thing here. I feel like a lot has happened, but really not that much has happened...

-School started and life is crazy again! I am taking 12 credits; Andrew is taking 17! I am teaching in the preschool here on campus and it is an absolute blast! I had my first opportunity to "lead teach" yesterday and it was so much fun! Tomorrow I get to run music time! YIPEE!!!

-Andrew started up a ward ultimate frisbee team. It is a mixed team so couples get to play together. It is so much fun and so far we are undefeated! We have another game tomorrow night at 9pm.

-Rexburg had it's first snow fall of the season on Monday. Summer is definatly over....this is about the time that Andrew starts thinkin that Vegas is a pretty good idea!

-General Conference was AMAZING! The theme that I found was serve and love those around you. I absolutely love being able to spend 2 whole days listening to men called of God!

I think that's about it. I will try to update more often, but no promises with this busy class schedule. (5 of my 12 credits are pre-school)

Vacation Trip Part 2

So we spent a week in Vegas with my family. My parents were still on their big bike trip across the country when we got there, but they ldid get home before we left. Andrew tried to fix up their truck (1998 GMC Sonoma), but it was past the point of no return...there was water in the cylinders, which made them rust to the walls.

We also had the opportunity to go to San Diego for one of our friend's wedding. It was lots of fun and the San Diego temple is so beautiful!

We are now back in Rexburg and school starts on Thursday. This is both of our last semester and we graduate in December...Andrew in accounting & me in child development. We are so excited to be finished, but we do not know where we will be going come December.

Oregon Vacation

We just spent the last 2 weeks visiting Andrew's family in Portland, OR. We stayed at his brother's house and got to hang out with their boys, Isaiah & Issac. They are the cutest boys ever! Every time that we left the house, Isaiah (4 years old) would tell us that he was going to miss us. And sure enough, as soon as we walked in the door he would say, "I miss you guys!" He is so precious! 2 year old Issac is the sweetest little boy ever. You ask him for a kiss, and he comes running over, lips puckered! Also, one of the last days that we were there, the boys woke up and came and laid down on our bed. We were just chillin, Andrew watching the stock market of course, when I looked over at the boys and Issac was pinching Isaiah's cheek...the same way Andrew pinches my cheek and says, "You're so cute, Miss Rachel!" It was so cute and so funny that a 2 year old picked up on something so random!

We also went swimming in some rivers while we were there...the Santiam and the Mollala Rivers. The Santiam River was beautiful, with small waterfalls and clear, but very cold, water. The Mollala River was warmer, but dirtier water. This was the first time I ever swam in a river!

For our next adventure, we are going to hike Mt. Timpinogas in Utah with my brother, Scott.

School's Out for Summer!!!

Finally it's over!!! The semester is finally over and I don't know what to do with myself for the next couple of days. This 2 month break begins some adventures for Andrew and me. Andrew's younger brother, Phil, is coming to visit us the first week in August, and then after that we are out of this little town of Rexburg for a while. We will go down to Vegas and hang out with my family for a bit and fix up my parent's truck...if anyone wants a pick-up, let me know! (98 GMC Sonoma) We will then drive up to Oregon to visit Andrew's family, who we haven't seen since our wedding over a year ago. It will be lots of fun and I promise to take my camera and take pictures!!!

For now, I better figure out something to occupy my time!

Ward Campout

Our ward had a campout Friday night and it was lots of fun! They feed us a tasty dutch-oven dinner, complete with a variety of cobblers. There was also a fireside speaker that talked about the Holy Ghost and asking our Father in Heaven for help. I don't remember everything he said, but it was very uplifting. Then there was a bluegrass band that played for us. One of the counselors in the bishopric was in the band. It was pretty awesome. We then stayed up until midnight playing card games with our new friends in the ward. In the morning, breakfast was provided as well, which consisted of pancakes, hashbrowns, and bacon. It was pretty tasty! It was a quick camping trip, but it was lots of fun to get out of our apartment and get to know some new people. (Once again, I took my camera but did not get any pictures! Sorry!!!)

Peach Cobbler

Here is another recipe link...peach cobbler! It was super tasty! Andrew didn't get any, so I will have to make it again soon!

ENJOY!!!

PEACH COBBLER RECIPE

4th of July

So I haven't posted for a while, but that's because nothing very exciting happened during the month of June! Just classes, tests, and work. But, this last weekend definately made up for the boring month!
Let's actually start with June 27th:
Andrew and I drove down to Logan, UT for my sister's wedding reception (the wedding was back in May). We got to see 2 of my brothers and my sister and all of their families. My mom was there as well. It was lots of fun to spend the afternoon with my family!

Then on Wednesday, we drove up to Island Park (about an hour north of Rexburg) and stayed in a cabin with my sister, Deanne, and her family. (Her kids are the two Andrew is coloring with in the previous post).
We had no school on Thursday, so we babysat Spencer and Hannah and Eliza (Deanne's kids) while they went to do a session in the Rexburg temple. They had never been and they went with Chris' family (Chris is Deanne's husband). We took the kids to the park and it was lots of fun.
Friday was not very eventful...it was our day to study so that we could play all day on Saturday.
So Saturday we watched the parade here in Rexburg and both got a little sunburnt! Then we met up with Deanne and her family at Porter Park and let the kids play in the splash park there. We also got to ride on the merry-go-round! They were a lot better then the last time I took them, which was over a year ago. Then in the evening, we drove down to Idaho Falls to watch the fireworks. We hung out with our friends (my old roommates & their husbands) for about 4 hours before the show started.

Needless to say, this past weekend really did make up for the uneventful month of June! This whole month is going to be a good one because we only have 3 weeks left of school, and then a 7 week break before we start our last semester! During that 7 week break, we will be taking some trips to see both of our families. I am very excited!

Good Times w/ Little Kids

While we were in Mesquite, NV for the first 3 months of the year, we were able to spend lots of time with my family. Unfortunately, I am not a avid photographer, so the following are the only pictures I got while we visited. My sister got her kids giant pads of paper and this is Andrew, Spencer, and Hannah (my niece & nephew) coloring on the giant pad of paper.

Broken Pot

So here I was making J-ello a little bit ago, and I thought it would be a good idea to use my cute, yellow stoneware casserole dish. I poured in the hot water and there was a loud pop, which I thought was quite odd. Then I carried the dish over to the counter, no problems, to pour in the cold water. I then began to pick up the dish, at which point, the entire bottom came right off! J-ello went everywhere: all over the floor, onto the stove, in the sink, around the sink, dripping down the wall...EVERYWHERE! For your viewing pleasure, I have taken a picture of the broken casserole dish and warn you that ceramic is not a good option to make J-ello in. Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of the J-ello everywhere, sorry!

Pictures!

Here are some pictures that our fabulous photo friend, Kate took for us. She is an awesome photographer and if you want your pics taken for a good price, visit her blog. Anyways, enjoy our pictures!

Cinnamon Rolls

So I found this fantastic recipe for cinnamon rolls that does not use yeast. It is quick, easy, and delicious! For the icing, you could make a regular powdered sugar glaze, but I had Betty Crocker Cream Cheese icing in my cupboard, so that is what I used. Enjoy!

No Yeast Cinnamon Roll Recipe

1 YEAR!!!

So today is our 1 year anniversary! It went by so fast! I can't believe it has already been a whole year! We are still going to school, but we both graduate in December! I feel like this is phase one in our journey through eternity. I cannot wait for phase 2 to start and the rest of life to happen! I know it will not be easy, but I cannot wait! I look forward to facing all the challenges ahead for us and conquering those challenges together. I look forward to having a family and seeing our children grow. It seems like I have lived a lot so far, but there is still so much more to experience. 

I have put up some photos from my wedding for us all to look back and reminice. I hope that everyone who is married takes some time to look at their wedding photos every once in a while. It really helps you to remember the happiness you felt on that day! Not only do you remember that happiness, but you fall in love with your spouse all over again! So enjoy life and take the challenges that come one at a time and do it together! 

Chicken Parmesan

This is my new favorite chicken recipe. It is probably the best chicken I have ever made! Enjoy!

Chicken Parmesan

Friends

Andrew's friend, Greg, came to visit from Oregon. We haven't seen him since our wedding. It was way good to see him. Andrew and Greg went out in the middle of nowhere and shot clay pigeons all afternoon. I wish that I could have gone to take pictures, but I had to go to class. ): We also saw the movie, Taken, at the cheap theater. It is an amazing movie! You should go see it. Right now, Greg just took his first bite of one of Andrew's famous hamburgers! He's so cute with his hamburgers! We didn't eat his burgers for 4 months while we were in Mesquite. It was nice to have a break, only so we could experience it like the first time again! If you have never had one of Andrew's hamburgers, you are definately missing out! 

25 Facts about Us!

25 Things... couple style!

So it's Saturday morning and I saw this on my friend's profile, and I thought what the heck, why not?!

Rachel & Andrew

♥ What are your middle names? Alice and Andrew (his first name is William)

♥ How long have you been together? Married: 2 weeks of a year, altogether...2 years & 8 months!

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? a few weeks...I had to snag him up quick before the other girls (or 2 of my roommates!) in the ward did!

♥ Who asked who out? I asked him out...for the first date at least...but I'm not sure he knew it was a date then...

♥ How old are each of you? He is 25 and I'm 22

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most? Mine

♥ Do you have any children together? No, but I can't wait until we do!!!

♥ What about pets? No...but Andrew just told me the other day that we can get a doggy once we have a house!!!

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? we're both going to school, so telling the other we can't play cause we have homework to do... :(

♥ Did you go to the same school? We currently go to the same school

♥ Are you from the same home town? Not even close! 

♥ Who is the smartest? He's probably smarter...especially with ##. 

♥ Who is the most sensitive? Me, but he has his moments =D

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Hmm...we don't eat out much now that we're in Rexburg (all the fast food joints are crappy), but while we were in Mesquite, we probably went to Jack in the Box most

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Well, the furthest from Rexburg that we have traveled would be Pheonix. We haven't been that adventurous yet...

♥ Who has the craziest exes? Probably me, only because I have more...but his ex was a pot head...

♥ Who has the worst temper? I'm quicker to raise my voice, but he's more opinionated

♥ Who does the cooking? I do usually, but when it comes to hamburgers, it's all Andrew!

♥ Who is more social? Probably me...I like to get out and make new friends whereas he likes to stick with the ones he has

♥ Who is the neat-freak? He is really, but I'm coming around!

♥ Who is the more stubborn? Oh I don't know...I think he is...he always says that I'm a people pleaser so...

♥ Who hogs the bed? I do! But he hogs the sheets!

♥ Who wakes up earlier? Definately me...it's almost 10 and he's still snoozin away!

♥ Where was your first date? Our first date (the one where he wasn't aware that it was a date) was to a jazz concert. Our first real date...we tried going to this family fun zone just south of rexburg but it was closed...so I don't remember what we did instead...

♥ Who has the bigger family? Me for sure! When we got married, he went from 2 nephews to 14 neices & nephews!

♥ Do you get flowers often? No...but that just makes when I do get them all that more special!

♥ How do you spend the holidays? Chillin with family and friends!

♥ Who is more jealous? I don't know...but I do have a lot more guy friends than he does girlfriends, if that means anything...

♥ How long did it take to get serious? It was after shortly after a month...I remember cause it was after he got the geo

♥ Who eats more? Throughout the day, me, but at one meal, definatly him!

♥ Who does/ did the laundry? I do

♥ Who’s better with the computer? Andrew is...he works on the computer for his job so...

Swimming

So I started swimming again. I haven't swam in a couple of months, and it feels so good to be back in the water! While we were in Mesquite, I would go swim a couple days a week, but that was in a warm, 2 lane 20 meter pool surrounded by floating old people. It is so nice to be back in a cool 6 lane 25 yard pool with my peers and friends! When I was younger, I never knew that I would love swimming as much as I do! I have made great friends from the swim program at BYU-I and my experience here would be so different if I hadn't swam! 

It's funny, I have applied to be the coordinator for the swim program in the fall, and the faculty member in charge of hiring me was saying that the other applicant was some guy who used to swim here, but he's been gone for a while. Then I went out on the pool deck and there was my friend who I haven't seen in a couple years. Then I found out that he was the other applicant! After I thought about the fact that if he's been gone a while and I knew him before he left, I realized that I have been around for a long time! This is my 7th semester with the swim program. 

I don't feel like my freshmen year was that long ago, but when I think about it, a lot has happened in 4 years! I never would have imagined that this is where I would be now. But I love being married to Andrew! Life is good right now, but I cannot wait to graduate and start our next adventure...family life!!!

Fall

So I just figured out what my schedule for fall semester could look like! I only have to take 3 classes. One of them is worth 5 credits and I will have that class everyday, but other than that, I will have 2 other classes on Monday and Wednesday! So I am pretty excited about that! For now, I have to get to work on some homework with a group.

My first blog!

This is my first blog ever and I'm kinda excited! I have been looking at my friends' blogs, and I thought, "Why don't I have one of these?" Anyways, as of yesterday, my husband, Andrew, and I are in our 12th month of marriage! Our one year anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks and we don't have classes the 2 days after! We might do something exciting...! 

We just got back from my sister, Laura's, wedding in Logan, UT. This was a long-awaited event and I am very happy that I was able to be there to support my sister. I was also able to see my parents, and my brother, Scott, and his kids, who I haven't seen since my wedding! They are getting so big! Unfortunately, I forgot to take me camera, so there are no pictures... :( Hopefully I will have access to some soon and I can put them up here. 

I am the head guard at BYU-I's swimming pool. It sounds special, but it's not very glamorous. I am in charge of making the schedule every week and covering people's shifts, specifically the 5 am shifts...yuck! The good part about it is that the schedule will mainly be the same for the rest of the semester, so it won't be that bad!

So in a nutshell, life is good right now. Andrew and I graduate in December this year and we will never have to live in Rexburg again! At least that's our plan.