Castle Life

I always knew I would end up in a castle...... I just never it would be a drip castle. Enoch has affectionately named our apartment such and it has become very endearing. When it rains the true colors of our apartment show what started as one leek slowly morphed into half a dozen. It is a good thing California doesn't see much rain I suppose.

Cougar Football (California version)

Moving away from Provo meant that this season we would miss out on Cougar football; but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to see BYU when they played the Aztecs in San Diego. I survived the two hour car trip, and I am beginning to believe that Orange County and San Diego are a little piece of heaven- even the freeways are pretty (no billboards, no graffiti, greenery, and no trash on the sides of the freeways)

The excitement to start the game was like old times! I loved to see the flood of cougar blue and realize there are tons of BYU fans/ members even in California. The section we sat in even had a few rousing rounds of the fight song. In the end we were glad BYU came out on top, but we were expecting a better performance to be completely honest. Ah well, football season in the best and victory is always sweet!

Exploring Beautiful California

Most people live in an area for years without really exploring the area... I am determined to avoid this at all costs. Consequently, Enoch and I are constantly playing the tourist and love scouting out all the sites of Southern California.

Our recent adventures have brought us to the Hollywood sign. Although Hollywood itself is kind of nasty I hear, the foothills by the Hollywood sign were beautiful. It was fun to see the mansions built on all sort of crazy hills and windy roads.

Enoch was serious about this hikeOh the things you find when you climb up mountains, like a body of water up in Hollywood- who knew? Unfortunately it was a very polluted day when we hiked and we couldn't see very far, such is life in LA.

Following the hike we visited Griffeth's Observatory

Einstein showed me around, it was pretty sweet

Go Ninja, Go Ninja, GO

With Halloween rolling around Enoch and I have been racking our brains to come up with the perfect costumes. If still living close to home we would have an abundance of random clothing items, past costumes, and accessories at our disposal; however, this year we were reduced to what we had in our tiny little apartment. The verdict- Ninja Warriors, a fitting theme for the good old days when we were dating and we would often pretend to be as sneaky as a Ninja Warrior.

I was at a disadvantage on this costume considering the fact that I have never even seen Ninja Turtles, but Enoch played a monumental role and we were adorned with numchucks, Ninja swords, and of course the Ninja stars. Our budget for this costume only enhanced the experience using good ol' tin foil and card board, and a back scratcher as a belt. we sported our costumes at the Northridge institute Halloween party and walked away with the Best Costume on a Budget award
Go Ninja, Go Ninja, GO

My Education Crisis

After five major changes, denied entrance to the dietetics program, getting married, and moving to California, I have learned some things in life require flexibility. Education has been one of these areas for me. This past summer I stewed over what direction I should proceed in- should I continue in Dietetics and brave the 3 years it would take? Should I still graduate from BYU and major in Exercise Science through independent study & transferring credit from Cal State Northridge, should a get a masters degree? You get the point, it felt like each day brought a new major, a new field to investigate, different schools to learn about, more indecision, and a bigger headache.
So I decided to stick with my original plans and continue in dietetics. I made beautiful excel spreadsheets to show Northridge's department the classes I have taken and how they fit into their program. I emailed countless professors to receive the "secret code" to be able to register for their classes. I researched program requirements, internships.... yet no one would help me. This is where I learned the term budget crisis. They do things different here- Professors don't work in the summer and now things are way worse with the introduction of "furloughs." Needless to say upon arrival at CSUN I was quickly discouraged with the prospect of retaking GE's and jumping through the hoops of public education. I sat and cried in a classroom alone and made the decision- I am graduating from BYU in Exercise Science. I finally felt peace after a summer of stress and frustration.
The first three weeks of school were crazy fighting culture shock and a new system to get used to, but miraculously I was able to add the 3 classes and 2 labs I needed. I literally begged the professors and had to prove that I was a graduating Senior in every class in order to complete this incredible feet. Yah for persistence and sticking it out.
You may ask yourself, what can you do with a Exercise Science degree? I have not idea, but I am seriously contemplating getting a Masters in Health Administration. It is a two year program and I could potentially manage Enoch's future Physical Therapy practice. Who knows how it all will go down, but I know it will be a wild ride.
To end my long story, It is the twists, the turns, the walking in the dark, the open window in the attic, the extreme joy, and the pain that build character. I sure do appreciate Enoch as well as my family for supporting for listening to all of my crazy plans, and laughing and crying with me throughout it.

Dodgertown USA

2 for1 voucher for a dodger game --------$19.00

Free parking on Lilac Terrace ------------$15 savings
Free dodger dogs ---------------------------$10 savings
A clear day in LA ----------------------------Rare and Wonderful
A Beautiful Sunset --------------------------Breathtaking
The night with my honey ------------------ Always Amazing
Memories of Last Years game -----------Nostalgic (we were apart for the summer & met at the stadium last year)
Studying Muscles during the game ----- Lame, but I'm a student
A Dodger win ---------------------------------Expected (The Dodgers are #1)
__________________________________________________
by any accounting ----------------------- =PRICELESS

The Happiest Place on Earth on the Happiest Day of the Year

Looking back on the past year I feel nothing but sheer joy for the wonderful journey. How could I have imagined in one short year I would be married, buying a car, deciding where my husband goes to grad school, moving to California, remodeling a house, and attending a new school. With all the changes I was getting a little homesick realizing that I was living in an apartment full of boxes and spiders and I would be waking up the following day to the first day of school to fight to get into classes and my birthday. With Disneyland offering free admission on your birthday this year and knowing I would be living in California at the time of my birthday, I tried with great persistence to convince Enoch to take me to Disneyland, but my plan was foiled as the 24th was the first day of his program it appeared all but impossible....

My birthday rolls around and Enoch woke up early and made me the traditional breakfast in bed and I set out determined to have a good attitude and make the most of the day regardless of what happened. However, when Enoch and I met at the institute for lunch he informed me that he had an early present he wanted to give me..... he didn't have any afternoon classes and was taking me to Disneyland! Being the sneaky person that I am, I am rarely surprised- but Enoch got me good and I was absolutely stunned. We couldn't get to Disneyland fast enough, I felt like a 6 year old in great pain while Enoch insisted we get food for dinner to take into the park with us.

My day at Disneyland was magical from the second they pinned my Happy Birthday badge on my shirt. Every ride I rode the employees wished me happy birthday, small children ran up to me and told me happy birthday- what more can you ask for.

The day was full of happy memories of going to Disneyland when I was a kid and on my honeymoon with Enoch! Long live Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, Space Mountain, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, running to every ride, Fantasmic, mickey leading the fireworks, animated characters, sore legs, Birthdays, and wonderful, sneaky husbands!

Jesse and I are both Cowgirl Princesses

Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (our favorite Disneyland show)

Mickey, you are the best