The last time we dressed up...

The last time we dressed up for Halloween was a couple of years ago. We were still dating then and probably had somewhat of a social life, therefore a reason to dress up. I was a robot and James was a blue man (he was supposed to be Tobias from the show Arrested Development but I couldn't convince him to wear cut off denim shorts!). I think the real reason we haven't dressed up for Halloween since is because we haven't thought of anything better than our previous costumes.

Although we did not dress up this year we did have an enjoyable Halloween just hanging out and playing games with some friends.

P.S. - I went a little picture crazy b/c I found some funny Halloween ones when I was looking for one of James and I. My roommate Sarah and I would dress up as pumpkins every year and deliver candy. Can you tell all of my costumes have always been homemade?

Deadline Day

Today was the deadline for the postcard portion of my project. I did receive quite a few yesterday and today but I know a few are still on their way. Right now I have received somewhere around 65 which is just under half the number I sent out (150). It has been an interesting and exciting month. I was really surprised that some people replied and surprised by some who didn't. I have gotten pretty used to getting mail though so it will be sad when it goes back to bills and ads. I will try really hard to get the replies posted on my project blog soon (I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will get done tomorrow). People have sent me some cool stuff! Anyways, a big thank you to those who helped out - it meant a lot to me and it was great to hear from all of you!!!

For Kate: Annual trip to Cornbelly's

James and I made our annual trip to the corn maze on Saturday night. This year the maze was in the shape of David Archuleta and they blasted his singing throughout the entire maze. It was quite the experience. I look forward to going every fall. We started the tradition because my roomate Kate talked us into going a few years ago because our friend Scott Johnson won free passes and we had a blast. We owe our corn maze experiences all to them. Kate does not live in Utah anymore so she hasn't been able to go the past couple of trips (although she has considered flying here for it every year...that's dedication) but I thought I'd post pictures from all the years we've gone so Kate can relive all the fun.

2005

One of our favorites...the cow train

Kate is a very distinguished tractor driver

This picture should discourage you from ever riding on a tractor with me

The first year it was Napoleon Dynamite themed - note the Llama in the background

Scott Johnson and James playing a little tetherball

posing with the chainsaw man

entrance to Cornaphobia

loves pictures

happy farmers






















2006

This is the only picture from 2006 because the girl who took it dropped my camera afterwards and broke it. Also James lost his wedding ring while playing tetherball. Luckily after 30 minutes of crawling on the cold ground our friend Jeremy Webster found it. It was still a fun night even though it cost us a camera and almost a wedding ring.









2007

James loves cows


Ryan and Natalie on a date (good thing they got married so I could include this picture in the post)


Probably the coolest thing ever - it was a giant elastic spider web you climb up and jump through...apparently it was only for small children but somehow they let us on it.

Rachel and Ryan

I love duck racing








2008

It only took 8 tries to get this picture with my eyes open

James made sure to bring along my head lamp

Please enlarge this picture...James was more than a little surprised the slide was that fast. His face is priceless.





















A married Ryan and Natalie...precious

pumpkin tree...and they're all real

I got mail

Well the letter drought only lasted one day! So I am feeling a little calmer about things. But keep 'em coming. On Thursday I got 2 and today I received 4. I am way behind on posting the responses on my project blog because I have been on campus non-stop working on my prints but I hope to have it current by Sunday. It is so wonderful reading the letters. I love to hear how everyone is doing and I have to say letters are way better than emails (although I am happy to get an email anytime). Hopefully this project will help me become a better letter writer. Getting the mail has been the highlight of my day the past few weeks!

project update/guilt trip

I got seven replies on Monday and two yesterday. I will try to post the replies soon on my project blog. They were all wonderful and it was good to hear from some people I haven't talked to in awhile. I was kind of expecting this week to be have the most replies so far...so we'll see what the rest of the week brings. Today I got zero replies(the first day since replies have started coming in). It was a little depressing. I shook all my junk mail just to make sure there wasn't something stuck in between. I am having a hard time not being in "control" of the actual correspondence part of my project and I feeling more anxious about it every day. I hope it works out!

vote, vote, vote

This is probably the first election in my time as a voter that I have actually paid attention. Until yesterday I thought I was registered to vote in Utah. I wasn't completely sure but I voted 4 yrs. ago here so I thought I was good. I planned on making sure I was registered to vote when I got a new driver's license but that never happened (I still have a Texas driver's license that expired on my b-day this year 9/25...shh don't tell). Every time I decide to go renew it I realize it's Friday and none of the government office buildings are open on Friday in Utah...ugg. So I have continued to drive illegally and very carefully. Anyways yesterday I had a feeling that I should really find out if I am registered. I looked online and I definitely wasn't and apparently today was the last day you could register in person at the county clerk's office. So I ran over b/t work and class and it was a mad house. We are a country of PROCRASTINATORS and I am one of them. Fortunately I was able to register and I made sure to use my student ID as a form of ID instead of my expired driver's license.

Weekend Update

Recent goings on...

This week has flown by. Things are starting to get really busy with my project and I'm definitely feeling a little stressed. I think we've finally adjusted to James' work schedule and he is balancing classes and work very well. In fact he even found the time to put up some new blinds in our main room (the old ones were beyond nasty). Soon I think I'll be putting him to work helping me make frames for all my prints. Once again I feel like such a needy wife but he is so much more coordinated with power tools than I am that a little help from him will make every thing go about ten times faster. Speaking of power tools-I used a table saw and miter saw in class this week and I can say that I still do not enjoy even going near either of them. Hopefully someday I will overcome my fear of having a body part chopped off by a whirling blade.

Last night James and I got to go to two friends opening receptions for their BFA shows - Laura Hawkins and Jon Troutman. Both shows were excellent and are up in the HFAC. Go see them if you can!

This week I also got a chance to read over Pres. Monson's talks from General Conference for my religion class. Although I watched conference I was glad to read over the talks again because I feel like I always forget so much of what I hear. There were two quotes I particularly liked:
"Send that note to the friend you've been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say "I love you" more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."
"Remember that the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it."