Quick Trip Home

Last weekend I made a quick trip home because I hadn't been home for five weeks and I was really missing my family and boyfriend.  It was a quick trip, but it was just what I needed to to get pumped for the next several weeks of exams. 

I cruised home Friday afternoon and spent Friday evening after dinner with my boyfriend as he packed to head off to college because his classes started Monday.  I spent Saturday with my family taking some pictures, going to a car show with my dad's jeep, playing with the horses, and making homemade pizza.  It was a great weekend at home!

Taking these pictures was something my dad had been wanting to do.  I say his idea was a good one!  I mean look at them--they look great and so do Erin and I!  I have a feeling these pictures will be making more appearances...perhaps around Christmas time on a card?  Now, I have to share this because this is always how it goes.  Erin and I we just going to wear black t-shirts, but it was cold outside.  When we met in the hallway after getting ready we were wearing these matching flannel shirts.  Kind of funny, but we often wear similar or matching clothes without out planning to.  Turned out nice, though, for the pictures if I do say so myself. 

Also, the Hay King is something our farm is quite proud of.  We won this recognition at the Grant County Fair back in August.  We won this competition for making great hay.  We are pretty happy about it!  We've won twice now in the last four years!

So the weekend at home was just what I needed.  I survived my two exams this past week and am ready to take on one exam per week until Thanksgiving break comes around.  Happy Fall!

I Want A Pet

So I really, really, really want a pet of some sort.  However, it is not going to happen because I don't want to clean up after one and I don't want to pay the fee for having one at my apartment.  The fee would be for a cat or dog.

My three pet choices are a cat, dog, and tarantula.  There are pros and cons to each of these critters.

Cat 
Cons:  smelly litter box, hair, claws, meowing, pouncing in the night
Pros:  a friend, cuddly, cute, entertaining, sleeps a lot

Dog
Cons:  too big for apartment, may bark at night, my be mean to other dogs, needs walks
Pros:  would get me to go on walks, could be a protector, a friend, eat leftovers, lick the dishes, play with

Tarantula
Cons:  a spider, creepy, needs a warm environment and I don't want a high electricity bill, can hold
Pros:  small, inexpensive to feed, doesn't need walks, would be quiet

So obviously there are goods and bads to my pet choices.  Even if I could have a pet, I would have a hard time choosing which one to get.  I would also like to have my horse here at school but she is isn't allowed at the apartment complex and she would miss her horse friends at home.  So for now I will keep dreaming and loving all my friends' pets here at school.

It's Been Ten Years Since 9/11

It is hard to believe it has been ten years since that awful day.  I remember it all very clearly.  I was a fifth grader.  Every time I think about 9/11 I get chills.  I've been watching news videos today and I get chills listening to the stories of those who lost a loved one and those who survived.  Every time I see the towers fall it's like it's happening all over again.  At every event since that day, I have gotten teary during the playing or singing of the National Anthem.

As an eighth grader, my family made a trip to New York and we went to ground zero.  Three years later debris was stilling being cleaned up, surrounding buildings were still in disrepair, and people were leaving memorabilia on the fence around the site.  It was a sad site to see.  There were people crying and embracing one another.  I know that there were people crying and hugging each other today at ground zero.  September 11, 2001 affected America greatly, and I am certain that there will be people visiting the site  every day who will cry. 

I found the image above earlier today and thought it was a good symbol for representing the attacks of 9/11.  I know this isn't my best post, but it is still hard to put words to what happened ten years ago because it is still so shocking that people would do such a thing. 

I am very proud to be an American and am thankful for those who defend the United States of America!

Laura Turns 20!

On Thursday, my roommate, Laura turned 20! 

For her birthday, we went out for dinner with a few girlfriends.  The place we went to was called South Fork.  One of Laura's professors owns this restaurant so we had to try it out.  The food was great!  I had Mac & Cheese that was made with Cougar Gold Cheese, topped with bacon bits and scallions, and was served with an amazing bread stick.  I want to go eat there again!  Check out their menu at http://www.southforkpublichouse.com/ !

On Friday night we had some friends over for dessert and snacks.  The dessert I made was Candy Bar Apple Salad.  It's pretty darn good.  The recipe can be found here http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Candy-Bar-Apple-Salad.  We had a good time hanging out, talking, painting nails, and watching movies.

The birthday girl making a wish! 

 All the girls that came over to celebrate!

 And the boys!

I'd say she had a pretty good 20th birthday.  Next birthday...My 21st!

My Four Day Weekend

So for most students they get three days off from school for Labor Day weekend.  I am not like other students, though.  I got a four day weekend because I don't have classes or labs on Tuesdays!  Having four days off has been nice, but busy.

It began with some decorating in our apartment with Laura on Friday.  Once we got things to stay securely on the wall, which took a few trys, it was time for a ten second tidy because our friends wanted us to come hangout.  We had a good time at our friends' house and spent most of our time snuggling with the adorable puppies and dogs  they have.

 Our "Welcome Wall" in our entry way.  The mirrors required some special treatment for getting them to stay on the wall.

This is baby Ruger and me.  Ruger is a very sweet chocolate lab that belongs to a friend.  I want him!

Saturday morning was a bit of a frenzy because there was more cleaning to do before my parents showed up for the football game.  I also wrote a paper, took out the garbage, and got ready for the football game.  Getting ready for the football game meant taking several photos with Laura in our WSU gear.

Saturday was a good day.  The Cougars won!  It was hot out!  I got to see my family!  We ate pizza!  Then I worked the closing shift at work.  It was a long day, though.

Sunday was another long day.  I did some homework, went shopping, went to spin class, and then I worked the closing shift again at work.  Shopping was great, though.  I got cute sandals with stones and jewels for eight bucks and a cute shirt for eight bucks, too!

My Monday morning did not start early.  After being up past midnight for several nights in a row, I slept in.  After I woke up, I had some breakfast and then started my reading assignments.  From what I can tell I didn't get much reading done because I feel asleep and didn't wake up until after noon.  Once up from my morning nap, I did some homework and then headed to work.  It was a pretty easy day considering most of it was spent sleeping!

Now today, Tuesday, has been a catch up day.  I'm doing lots of homework and studying.  I also worked out this morning because I haven't done that for a couple days.  Tonight I will work again.  I also thought it'd be a good idea to update my blog since it's been a couple weeks.  So hopefully you now feel more up-to-date on the last four days of my life!