Taking January off was wonderful. And although I took that [much needed] break, it doesn't mean I want the month to go unrecorded, so prepare yourself for a very long post, updating you on what we've been up to while I was out. I kept little notes in a draft so I wouldn't forget stuff, so I apologize in advance if everything is written in different tenses or I talk about "today" or anything like that...
January 2012:
new year's was mildly uneventful.
we spent the afternoon on the search for the perfect new bedding, and interrupted it with an ice cream break to meet up with Shawn and Mike D! I have heard devin and so many of his friends talk about Mike D, who has been gone for a long while. He is practically famous. He just got back in town, and everybody had a hay day! We had a lot of fun catching up (for dev and shawn) / meeting him (for me). and ice cream is always great. even in the dead of winter.
By the way, we concluded our search for the perfect new bedding at Target. where we found more options than ever, and I had a hard time choosing, but finally settled on Devin's favorite one: a charcoal quilt with a brick-type pattern, and some white and grey patterned sheets.we are really enjoying our now grey and yellow bedroom. It's a bit more masculine, which I don't mind.
speaking of our bedroom... the
sign is finished. has been for a long while. I'm not totally happy about how it turned out, but it will work for now. i'm sure i'll find a replacement for it in awhile that i like better, but for now, it was a really fun project. and i learned how to do it right (next time...) Also? It looks much better from a distance...
that night, we went to one party for maybe an hour. had some grilled pizzas (delicious. awesome idea. wish we had a grill to try it on our own with.) and took shawn and mike with us. after a few rounds of rock band, devin and i headed home while shawn and mike party hopped for awhile.
devin and i played the wii and then turned on the times square coverage and mike and shawn came back over and we brought in the new year right here on the couch high-fiving (and of course a midnight kiss for us ashby's.)
our church time changed this year from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. It's been nice to have the entire afternoon free, but at the same time, hard getting used to not being able to sleep in on Sundays. (and due to accidentally forgetting to turn on the alarm clock, we missed church on new year's day. oops!) It's lead to us revisiting our favorite Sunday tradition back when we dated: Sunday naps. Something I definitely don't mind. Except, do you ever wake up from a nap feeling more tired? Really groggy? We do, and that kind of defeats the purpose.
I ended up with one more day of work off (Carter was sick on Monday), and spent it with Amanda and Chloe. we ate some lunch (from our favorite restaurant, McDonald's. haha) and went to the antique mall, where I picked up some milk glass vases, a pretty plate, and a lace table runner.
on our drive from springville back to orem, the car to the right of us blew a tire. it made this explosion sound, and the blown tire caused the car (a big bronco, or something close to that) to hit the barrier, and then it flipped around, doing a 360, then slammed back into the barrier, which popped another tire off. it missed us by inches, because i had sped up when i heard the noise. so scary! chloe called the police. we were all fine, just a little shaken up!
we headed back to ashby parents' and watched the kids put on a play (hilarious) had dinner, helped amanda come up with some really cute valentine's day headbands, and watched the pretty little liars premiere.
(these pictures were taken on my phone, and those kiddos are fast movers. so they are awful quality. but seriously, this was the cutest, most hilarious thing. they wrote out their script and had Sean narrate while they acted it out and we were all giggling at how kayla has spelled some of the words.)
more from last month:
-i fought an awful cold for a good week.
-we played cards with my grandparents one night - hilarious.
-i realized i had watched "Tangled" every single day I've nannied for the past 2 months (and that is not an exaggeration. not even a little. every day i've worked for the past 2 months. literally.)
-i went through all my old posts and reformatted everything to be more uniform. and also realized that i have come a LONG way in my writing, and blogging.
-i pulled all my old files, photos and music off my PC that we aren't using anymore, and reorganized it all on the Mac.
-i won a blog giveaway for the first time ever! (from
Traveling Triplets) it's a beautiful print of a photo one of the triplets took of a dock on a lake in Guatemala. it inspired devin and i to occupy an empty shelf with only photos of places/destinations (that we had been to - this giveaway print is an exception. it's beautiful, and there isn't another place to put it anyway, and i'd sure love to go to Guatemala some day anyway!) to display, in a way, our love of traveling and going on adventures -- still in the making.
-we had dinner and played games with our friends, the Hancocks (so much fun. always is.) They sent us home with amazing home made rolls and fudge.
-we shot guns with a big group of friends out by Saratoga Springs one Saturday. I shot a semi-automatic shot gun and a 9mm (and we got the 9mm on video!) and Devin shot probably every single gun they brought.
-we got to do a little 4-wheel driving in Rex to get to where we were shooting, and it was probably Devin's favorite day of the month. There are a lot of shooting pictures... I'd say sorry, but I'm really not, haha!
a couple things about the shooting pictures:
-it was FREEZING BUTT COLD. i wore at least 27 layers.
-it was trying so hard to snow, but all we got were tiny flurries
-some of the pictures show the bright orange clay pigeons (none of which I ever shot. devin would ask me, "...are you aiming?" no. no I was not.)
-you can find some comfort in knowing that those crappy knock-off ugh slippers i'm wearing were promptly thrown in the trash immediately after walking in the front door when we got home. i was in a bind, and needed warm shoes that could get dirty, and dug them out of the back of the closet. i apologize profusely. also, don't mind that i look like the michelan man. like i said, it was freezing!
-was that not enough shooting footage for you? i don't think it was. so i'll give you a video. we made a point to take the video camera. we definitely need some practice. Devin edited it all and put it to "Dr. Pleasure M.D." by Cory Mon. He's funny like that, haha.
(SHOOTING VIDEO COMING SOON)
More about January:
-we ate at Communal (our very most favorite restaurant of all time) with a group of some of Devin's oldest climbing friends (from about 10 years ago when he started climbing).
-we talked much more seriously about me getting a road bike. I test road Devin's on the trainer and loved it, except it hurts your bum to sit on! he said you get used to it, plus there are lots of styles of saddles to choose from, so I can probably find something more comfortable.
-we spent the rest of that night looking at bikes online, and I found the one I want!
Bianchi bikes are known for this trademark mint green color. I think it's gorgeous! They also do a lot of specializing in women's bikes, to cater to a female cyclist's needs. I love that!
-we went to 5 different stores one night to find the right notebooks for Devin for school (yes. FIVE.)
-"we" watched the BCS National Championship instead of the Bachelor that one Monday night (guess which idea was who's. guess who's idea won...)
-Devin headed back to school the second week of January with an entire new schedule. Now he works 4 10-hour days of work and has tuesdays off for school (which is like a 12 hour school day for him). It's going to be a rough semester with a lot of long nights, but I am so glad he is getting it done! I can't wait for him to get further into the program and start really enjoying what he does. He is going to be so amazing in the Outdoor Recreation Management program! He is taking classes this semester that actually have something to do with his program (backpacking and rock climbing, to be exact) and finally feels like he is doing what he needs to be doing, which is so great!
Hmmm... let's see...
-we went on a double date with my parents to the temple one night, which was a lot of fun, and definitely needed. It had been too long since Devin and I were last at the temple, and there are no excuses. Just poor prioritizing on our part.
-One day, one way or another (how I got there is a blur), I ended up on a website for a sister missionary clothing store... and I loved everything they sold. The clothes were so cute! I think I'll start shopping at sister missionary mall. is that weird? am I even allowed?
-another thought on sister missionaries: I think there are as many girls from my Class of '09 going on missions as there were guys! I think that is about the coolest thing. You go, girls.
More...
-I finished the first book in the Hunger Games series for the second time. It had been awhile since I read it, and wanted to refresh myself before the movie comes out (MARCH!!!). Part of me really wants to go to the midnight showing, but it seems like most of my friends and families work for cool businesses that get their own theaters for big premieres and sell/giveaway tickets. So maybe I'll just bank on that happening instead.
-we started to go rock climbing once a week (so Devin can log hours for his rock climbing class). My first night back in year. We haven't been very consistent rock climbers. It was frustrating for me, as usual, but it went okay and I did a good route and a few bouldering problems. As we were driving home with our taco bell dinner, we realized that climbing isn't something Devin wants to get back into, and I didn't find myself wanting to progress with my skill level, which is further leading me into the world of cycling. We still love climbing, and will probably still spend a few nights every now and then at Momentum or The Quarry, but it's nothing we want to actively pursue, like cycling. It's possible that I will be a full blown cyclist come spring 2013.
-we got a sack of oranges from my mom in December, and bought a box of "cuties" recently -- and now i'm positive my hands will forever smell like oranges. Which i don't really mind. Our house constantly had oranges in cuties through the month of January.
-we helped my parents update their living room and spent an entire weekend painting and laying new carpet - it looks great!
-we went to dinner with Ryan and Danica and played games while watching our personal "The Best Of The Office" choices.
-Devin experimented with dinner again and made some delicious steak/pepper kabobs. The steak he made tasted exactly like the garlic Parmesan beef at Tucanos! It was so good.
-Sean (Devin's brother) turned 26.
-Kaden (our nephew) turned 6.
-we had a big cookie party for them (I made 4 dozen snickerdoodles!)
Addi LOVES playing with anybody's phone. loves it. she also loves her uncle devin, and it's adorable.
makayla learned "happy birthday" on the piano, just for the birthday boys.
sean and kaden blowing out the candles on their cake
we got him legos (surprise, surprise)
one of his masks from his grandma wagstaff
reading his tag reader with uncle devin (love this photo!)
-we watched the Youtube / National Geographic film called "Life in a Day" -- so intriguing, but also sort of disturbing at parts (one guy kills a cow in a slaughterhouse in some far away country in a pretty in-humane way. it's so sad) but it was amazing! Youtube just asked people to film their normal lives on July 24, 2010, and then they mashed it all together to make this awesome, super informative, eye-opening film. It's worth seeing, and also on instant play on netflix.
-Devin bought us some wool socks on a whim one day. Which was a nice surprise, and also very practical. It sparked our interest in getting some sportiva hiking boots. If only we were made of money, right? He had texted me and said he had a surprise for me. And then went on to say I would probably think he was a nerd. He got us wool socks for our ski trip! He may be a nerd, but that makes me a nerd, too.
-He also surprised me with tickets to both nights of the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Happy Valentines day to us!
-We did the whole "help neighbors/friends move large furniture because we are the people with a truck" thing for the first time ever (the Fontaine's had bought a couch).
-we finally got around to watching Bridesmaids, which was nothing like the trailer, and not all that funny. Parts of it were hilarious, but it wasn't worth the hype, I don't think.
-Devin designed and built a sofa table. We painted it black to match the rest of our furniture, and while we were at it, painted the wood shelf to match as well. Building a sofa table called for finding a new home for the apple crates: check. Next on his list is a coffee table. He wants me to mod podge it, so we spent a long time trying to decide what to put on it and finally settled on maps of new england! I picked new england, because it's a place that means a lot to both of us, plus their maps are probably more aesthetically pleasing than utah maps. I also think I'll have to make some matching coasters.
-THIS came in the mail for Devin. It's a Brownie 8mm video camera. It's awesome! We were both excited to see it came in the original box.
-THIS happened for the first time all winter (in the late-middle of january, for crying out loud!)
we had just walked out of target with a cart full of groceries and stopped before loading them all in the car to put our arms out, tilt our heads up, squinting our eyes shut, with huge smiles, finally soaking in some pretty snowflakes. Devin excitedly shoveled our stairs when we got home, and the snowflakes got even bigger! And even though it was cold, we left the door open for a few minutes so we could watch it fall, while...
-we went through every cupboard in the kitchen! We reorganized it all, yet again, and threw out sort of a lot of things that were expired (oops!) but our kitchen has never looked better! That is a huge relief. Our cupboards were so stuffed and hard to get things out of, and now there is space in there!
-we had dinner at Dev's parents. Ate some yakisoba. And got some Pocky sticks. Devin's dad served his mission in Japan, and he makes some great japanese food! Yakisoba was a hit. I had 2 huge servings! After dinner, we ate desserts and played Nerts and Progressive Rummy. It's always a blast to play games with the Ashby family. I love them all so much! I so enjoy Addi's little antics every time I see her too. She is hilarious, and just too cute for words. I love her extremely high-pitched voice, and the way she calls herself a "pretty princess". I love that she calls me Kabie and Devin Demin. I love that little Kadenator, and how every time we come over he gives us a hug and then shows us whatever cool new toy he's been building or playing with. I love that Kayla has so much spunk, we don't even know what to do with it. I love her bright blonde hair and her little smirk when she's trying not to smile. She cracks me up. I am so lucky to have them as my nieces and nephew. I love that we get to see them all so often, and I love that they are always happy when we walk through the door. It makes me feel so great! I just love those Ashby's!
-I spent the third week of January applying for jobs like a mad woman. I want to be a dental assistant. It is my career goal. It is an awesome job with good pay, good hours, plus it's something I am interested in. I know it is a job with great security (people will always need dental work!), and I know I can fall back on it later in life. I also know you usually go to school for this job. But, I also know that several practices will hire you and train you, so you can do things the way they want them done, rather than act like you already know everything. All of that being said, I applied for as many openings as I found on ksl, and then went around to every practice I could spot in orem and provo (I got 18 resumes out in 3 hours to 18 different practices!). So then began the waiting game. I already gave my little nanny family a "last day", which really scared me. I knew I would have to be gone by then (Feb. 3), whether I had another job already or not, so I really pushed myself into gear. I wanted so badly to focus solely on dental assisting jobs, but Devin had a hunch I should apply for everything I am qualified for, which meant another 10 resumes out to companies looking for everything from an executive/administrative/office assistant, a social media representative, a catering coordinator, and office manager. I don't think I've crossed my fingers so hard in my life! I have to hope that at least one of these almost 30 places is looking for me. 1 out of 30. That's ALL I NEED.
-we spent a tuesday getting some ski gear we needed at Park's (long underwear and new gloves) for our trip that upcoming weekend: For Christmas, my parents gave Devin and I a stay at the Cedar Breaks Lodge, down near Cedar City to spend some time skiing at Brian Head -- I will write about it in it's own post. Because it deserves it. We left on Friday the 27 and got home the following Sunday.
-that wednesday, I took Carter and Aria to the aquarium.
We went not too long ago, and they had been advertising that they would have an Otter exhibit soon. Carter went crazy. He was so excited. He kept calling them beavers, and asking when they'd be here, so naturally, when they came in earlier this month, we made it a point to go. They are pretty adorable little creatures. The penguins, too. The penguins show off now, I think they understand that they are "on display" because they will swim right up to where you're standing and wiggle and twist and then zoom up to the surface and jump up onto the rocks in less than a second. It's adorable.
I was trying to get a video of the penguins jumping up out of the water -- it was awesome. but they stopped as soon as i started filming. then Carter tried to figure out which size penguin Aria was, but she just wanted to stand by the baby penguin, and he got so frustrated! haha
-It's always really hot in the aquarium. I don't know why. I had left Aria's jacket on, and after about 40 minutes, she started getting cranky. I figured it was just because she was tired (we were there during her usual nap time). She had a fever earlier in the morning, but was playing and totally happy. Less than 5 minutes later, she was greenish pale and so limp. Poor girl! She spent the rest of the day sleeping and relaxing.
-I made it a point during my last 2 weeks with this family to savor every second. As much as those two drive me up the wall, I love them to death, and I will miss them terribly when I leave (this Friday! :( so soon!). It's made for some great, cuddly movie days, and lots of "eskimo kisses" and laughing. I've even let up on carter's quiet time, and more importantly, have shared my fries with him (I know).
-I started making use of the scrap wood left over from all of devin's furniture building and made a few signs to fill some awkward spaces on our walls. (the white one with black letters is for our shelf of photos of places and the black one with white letters filled a weird space on our wall of photos in the hallway)
- we did our taxes. bleeeeh. i hate doing taxes. amanda was the biggest help for us! we got a nice return, and even filed them all correctly! it was great!
- we did even more climbing - I did my first 5.6! The other times we had gone this month, I had been doing 5.4 and 5.5, and there was one 5.4 that was pretty difficult for me, so when I saw this 5.6, I was really intimidated, but I did it on the first try and it felt so good! I felt a little silly getting so excited about having climbed a 5.6 when everyone else in the gym seemed to be so much more advanced than me, doing 10's and 11's, but it was still big for me! I'm only a beginner!
- we went on our ski trip (the "more later in it's own post" trip)
- we racked up 50 episodes of "Cops" on our DVR
- we watched True Grit
- we had FHE with the Holdaway's. So funny.
- I finally started seeing some movement on the job front (getting calls and emails, actually interviewing, feeling less discouraged...)
- My baby brother turned 16 on the last day of the month! HOLY COW!! I can hardly believe it. What did we get him for his sweet 16, you may ask? The book called "How To Talk To Girls". Written by a 9 year old.
I'm almost positive I forgot a few things, so I will probably mention them as they come to me. It was a good month!
