I'm allowing myself a five minute study break. The only things getting me through this week are Colt, Dr. Pepper, white chocolate candy cane kisses, and of course my family and friends.

Anyone want to take over advanced calc for me?

Back to studying...maybe I should put a picture up of the review sheet. Then you would all understand that not only is the material horribly hard, but the professor's handwriting is impossible to read, so it is like translating a foreign language that you don't speak. Fun.

I am still sick! I can't remember the last time I could breathe through my nose.

Next week I have 4 tests.

One in probability and statistics...it will be ok.

One in advanced calculus...why don't you just shoot me right now. I hate that class...I'm so sick of writing proofs that I don't really feel like go anywhere.  I'm also tired of the professor that states a theorem and then says, "you know this, you know this." Well, no. I don't. That would be why I'm taking this class. 

Another test is the exit exam. I have to pass to graduate. No calculator, no scratch paper, just me for two hours calculating things and remembering formulas that I haven't used in two years. I'm hoping the nation in general is dumb because my score is based on my percentile in the nation.

The last test is the praxis. I have to pass that one to graduate too. It's Saturday morning at seven. There's a nice way to start the weekend.

Oh and I have a paper to write.

I'm feeling overwhelmed! Anyone have words of encouragement? What are you looking forward to this week?

Dear Baking Soda,
We are no longer friends. That is really all I have to say to you.

Dear KitchenAid,
Sorry I made you work so hard today, it will never happen again. Actually, I can't promise that.

Dear Kitchen,
Sorry you are such a mess. Maybe someday I will learn how to bake without spilling flour and powdered sugar everywhere.

Dear Mom,
Do you think you could come out here and make your amazing Halloween cookies? I am apparently incapable and that is all I really wanted today. Please?!

Dear Colt,
Sorry you have to deal with my craziness, and eat my gross baked goods. Thanks for cleaning the kitchen!

Dear Dan,
Fine! Keep the stupid cookie gene! I didn't want it anyway! At least I got the sewing gene...until you steal it from me.

Dear Cookies,
I hope you enjoy being in the trash.

Love,
Karen

I had my last show this weekend, and I thought I would be sad, but I wasn't. I was so thankful that my mom came to see it. She has always come to all my shows, so I was really glad she could be at my last show ever. I'm glad Colt was there and that we could both dance one last time with the Ballroom Dance Company. I'm still a little sad to not be dancing, but I'm doing much better since I have been able to dance just a little bit more.

Now that I quit Lin's and dancing, I have had time to do fun things with Colt and our friends. Last night I made dinner for Colt and Alli and I decided to be brave and try a new recipe. I made roasted chicken in olive oil, lemon juice, and rosemary, with onions, bell peppers, and red potatoes. I was really nervous, but it actually turned out well, and Colt and Alli didn't get food poisoning or anything, so that is definitely good news. Then we went to Maggi Moos for dessert and to celebrate me being done with my advanced calc test (aka the test from hell).

I have loved getting to be a little more domestic in my spare time. This morning I wanted to wear my long pink button up shirt with my big black belt over it, but it was wrinkled, and honestly, normally I would have just given up on the outfit and dealt with it later. Instead, I pulled out my new aqua rowenta iron and ironed my shirt. I remembered that I actually really enjoy ironing. It feels good to have crisp, smooth clothes.

My family can no longer tease me about not cooking or doing other things of that nature. All I needed was a little time on my hands.

Close friends of our family have a tradition of telling the good and not-so-good of their lives at dinner, so I decided to blog about my good and not-so-good things as of late.

Not So Good:
-For the last 5 days I have been horribly sick. I have had a sore throat (swallowing has been horribly painful), fever, head ache, stuffy nose, and basically I have done nothing but lay around our apartment being sick. I did drag myself out of bed last week to go to class, but that is pretty much the only time I left the house. Unfortunately, all of these things are symptoms of the swine flu, but having no insurance, a doctor has not confirmed that diagnosis.

Good:
-I have a husband that takes such good care of me, especially when I'm sick.
-Since I have been stuck in the apartment so much lately, I have had time to start making Colt's Christmas stocking. My Mom bought me the stuff to make our Christmas stockings this summer, and being sick gave me an excuse to watch Gilmore Girls and sew stockings. It is so fun! I feel so domestic.
-I have something to get me through this week...my Mom is coming to visit this weekend! I have my last ever ballroom dance show this weekend, and since my Dad will be traveling for work, my Mom is driving out to visit and see my show. I am so excited!

The last few weeks have consisted of lots of new things in my life. Actually I guess it is more of a lack of old things. The first is that I decided not to do ballroom anymore. This was honestly one of the hardest decisions of my life. I never saw the day I would give up dance, but I decided that my school work and my husband are more important. I am still really sad. I know I will eventually get used to a life without dance and it will be better in the long run, but I still miss it. I get to do one last show at the end of September and my director put me in some solo spots and featured dances since it is my last show. It is good that I get one last chance to do one of my favorite things ever.

The other change is so exciting!! Drum roll please......I quit Lin's! After multiple shifts of calling Colt crying because I got yelled at by a customer, or my manager wrote me up for being late for break because I was helping a customer, or I got in trouble for not facing the soda, or some crazy thing that happened at work, we decided it was time for me to quit. Next week will be my last week, and even though I love the people I work with, I am so excited to be rid of the stress. I can't wait to actually see Colt and have time to do my homework. I am not at all sad to leave the rude customers of Lin's and the horrible shifts which always include nights, weekends, and holidays.

It has been a busy, long, hard, emotional week and I'm so excited to spend the weekend at the cabin (and not so excited to work). Thank goodness for long weekends!

We are back from the wedding and our honeymoon, we have started school, and we are starting to get settled into our apartment again. I posted a few pictures of our wedding, more to come later. I had sweet aqua shoes...they got ruined in the rain, but it was all worth it!


This is my cute niece, Jordyn. Here is a conversation with Jordyn that my English-nerd friends will appreciate.
Colt: Jordyn, where did Aunt Karen and Uncle Colt get married?
Jordyn: ...
Colt: Did they get married at the temple?
Jordyn: No! IN the temple!


This is us coming out of the temple...so glad it wasn't raining!


This week has been crazy busy trying to get into school mode and back to normal life. We became accustomed to unlimited soft serve ice cream and no need to be aware of time on the cruise and this week has been a rude awakening back to real life. Classes are hard, but interesting. History of math is math-nerd heaven! I love it!

Now after a long, hard week, I'm at home alone because Colt went to work this weekend and since I had to work too I couldn't go with him. Alli and I went to the movies and now I'm laying in bed watching Gilmore Girls (what else is new?). More updates to come later. For now I'm going to bed with my giant, stuffed frog, Henry, and a healthy dose of Gilmore Girls to doze off to.