Not too much to update for this month. I figured if I wanted to keep my goal of writing once a month I should do it now, before finals. This month we have just been plugging away at school and work. We decided we're only taking 13 credits next semester because 15 credits and a part time job is just too much. Edwin is excited to take a couple beginning agriculture classes (Intro. to soils and small engines) and to take the beginning class to start his History Education major. I'm mostly excited for American Foundations and my beginning horsemanship class. We are also taking a Church History class together.
Edwin isn't sure if he wants to stick with his job too much longer, but he seems to be doing well. He won a small gerber knife for me, as well as a DVD player, from a raffle at his work. He also seems to get a few bonuses and he just made his first big sale (where he got close to $800 from commissions). I just love my work! Working as an in-home care provider reaffirms to me how much I really want to be a nurse. The gentleman I work for tells me "you bring sunshine to my day. My day is bad until you get here". If I don't get accepted into the nursing program this fall (which is looking more like the case) then I'll start working with him full time.
We had corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day. We've been trying a lot of new recipes recently. We love cooking our own meals and experimenting in the kitchen. I think I will minor in Culinary Arts after all!
We are excited to make our trip to Alaska! We miss everyone so much. It will be nice to get away and have a break from school. When we're there, we're also going to start firming up some plans for our trip back East. We'd like to leave around the 23 or 24 of July and get back at the end of August or the very beginning of September, just depending on what we want to do and how much money we have. Our idea is to stay with family as much as possible along the way and camp or stay at hostels the rest of the time. The places we'd like to stay are Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Mass., Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland (D.C.), Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Lousiana, Texas, Arizona, and back to Utah/Idaho. Depending on time and money, we may go as far north as Maine or Nova Scotia, as far South as Florida, or as far West as Las Vegas. Anyway, more details as we're planning.
Sorry if you don't hear too much from us this next little while. Finals will be over after the 9th of April. We love you all, have a great rest of the month!
Megan and Edwin
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Our First Apartment - Photos
Here are the photos of our first apartment, if you haven't already seen them:
Facebook Your Photos - Our First Apartment Together :): http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=134609&id=506392950&l=e030125df2
Facebook Your Photos - Our First Apartment Together :): http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=134609&id=506392950&l=e030125df2
Whos Got Talent? 2009
Here at the photos from Christmas, if you haven't already seen them:
Facebook Your Photos - Who's Got Talent? Christmas 2009: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=137165&id=506392950&l=645408b896
Facebook Your Photos - Who's Got Talent? Christmas 2009: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=137165&id=506392950&l=645408b896
Thanksgiving through Valentine's Day
Wow! Where to begin?!
We enjoyed our stay at the many houses we were able to "house sit" for, before we left Alaska. Thanksgiving was wonderful with tons of family and great food. Edwin and I went into Anchorage and kidnapped Eric (Edwin's Dad) to bring him to Thanksgiving dinner with us. We spent the rest of last semester finishing up at Mat-Su Community College, which we were glad to be done with. Some of the teachers were alright, but many of the students and teachers didn't take the education seriously. Edwin did a lot of extra time with his Marine unit in Alaska so he wouldn't have to bother going to drill for a while after our move to Idaho. He really enjoyed doing the toys for tots projects and is glad that the Marines have made that their tradition. December went by in a whirl and it hasn't seemed to let up since!
Christmas was really entertaining this year. We wanted to do something different, so the vote was cast for a family talent show - Dr. Suess style! We called it the "Who's got talent?" show, and we all dressed up like Whos from the Christmas classic The Grinch. What a blast! The hairstyles we came up with were outrageous. Edwin's short military cut didn't provide for much creativity, so he decided to be the Grinch. I painted his face/neck/hands green and he wore a santa cap and his green robe and flannel Christmas pj's. You can see all the photos, if you click on the links above.
After Christmas we were rushed to pack up all of our stuff. I was kind of amazed at how much stuff we have. Not that I'm complaining, but I'm sure glad we have lots of storage space at "Grandpas" and with my sister Emily. Anyway, we headed down the Al-Can (Alaska-Canada Highway) with as much as we could possible fit into our vibe. We made the trip with a couple of Edwin's Marine buddies, Jasen and Ethan, who made the trip in their own car for college as well. The guys all thought the trip was like a long military convoy - hardly any sleep, lots of energy drinks, and walkie talkies through Canada. We made it to Seattle in 3 days and we were pretty pooped out! We were fortunate to stay with Jasen and Ethan's hospitable grandparents to recuperate. The boys carried our extra set of tires plus our car top carrier in the bed of their truck. We ended up leaving the tires with their grandparents because we had no more room!
We then made the long drive to Idaho. We got to our apartment and had to smile because we are living in the typical "newly wed" apartment. It is right by the train tracks, so the whole apartment shakes a little each time a train passes by. There a multiple holes, stains, chips and cracks. The stove burners are bent and our curtains are see through. We are getting a little afraid of an electrical fire because the apartment is so old. One of the outlets burned out, some are kind of popping out of the wall, and the bathroom fan sometimes sounds like a dying helicopter. I told Edwin if he didn't help find us an apartment next semester with a dishwasher, he was going to get to do all the dishes - I'm sick of doing them all by hand. Seriously, though, it has been a really fun experience so far and we're creating tons of memories.
January and February flew by and it seems like we're always just trying to keep our heads above water. The homework load was a bit more than we expected, plus Edwin and I both started our jobs recently. Edwin is working with a sales company called Prosper, which sells education/mentor programs for starting online businesses and selling real estate. He still likes it so far and he made his first big sale on Saturday, but says he definitely doesn't want a cubicle job for his future career. I'm just glad he knows what he doesn't want, because the list of things he could do always seems to grow! :) I am working as a nurse assistant to an older quadraplegic fellow. He is super nice, and it's fairly easy, minus having to lift him in and out of chairs. I mostly just prepare meals and do simple strengthening exercises with him. Here's the kicker: he's naked the whole time! If I weren't married, I think it would take a lot more getting used to...but since we prefer less clothes anyway, it's not so strange once you get used to it.
Valentine's weekend Edwin took me back to Seattle so we could pick up our summer tires from Jasen and Ethan's Grandparents. We loved the break from Rexburg's snow! I still don't know if I could handle living with all the rain in Seattle, though Edwin thinks he could. We took a little road trip to Forks, Washington and did the "Twilight Tour" - Forks, La Push, and Port Angeles. We even ate at the restaurant Bella and Edward eat at in the book/movie! I liked the books and have read them all to Edwin (who enjoys them too!) on previous road trips, so it was perfect for Valentine's weekend.
We've made two trips to Provo so far for my dentist appointments and to see Aimee and the Farnsworth clan down there. It sure it nice to see family, and get my baby hungry kick in the process! Now we're just playing catch up since midterms were last week. We're doing well in our classes though, so it's paying off. I love having to take care of our own place and plan/cook our own meals. Tonight for "Family Home Evening" we plan to listen to a devotional and make the sugar cookies Chrissy sent us. We're planning to go back to Alaska for break in April, and we bought the tickets on Saturday. Edwin is going to drill and then officially transfer units (turn in all his gear/fill out paper work) to Salt Lake City. I'm just going back to visit family, as it turns out we will be living here until we're through with school and won't be coming home between semesters. We are also trying to save for a trip back East in August. We'd like to road trip, sight see, camp, and stay with family along the way. I've never really been back East/South, and Edwin really wants to introduce me to his family. We want to visit as much family as possible, so be expecting phone calls! More as plans unfold. This year is our year to travel!
Anyway, I know this was HUGE, so we'll really try and be better about posting monthly. We love you all and hope you are doing well in all of your endeavors. Hope to talk to you soon!
Megan and Edwin
P.S. Funny story: Edwin accidentally left his scriptures on top of the car on our way to church yesterday. They somehow stayed on the edge of the top, even though I was going 40mph. God's word is powerful! haha
We enjoyed our stay at the many houses we were able to "house sit" for, before we left Alaska. Thanksgiving was wonderful with tons of family and great food. Edwin and I went into Anchorage and kidnapped Eric (Edwin's Dad) to bring him to Thanksgiving dinner with us. We spent the rest of last semester finishing up at Mat-Su Community College, which we were glad to be done with. Some of the teachers were alright, but many of the students and teachers didn't take the education seriously. Edwin did a lot of extra time with his Marine unit in Alaska so he wouldn't have to bother going to drill for a while after our move to Idaho. He really enjoyed doing the toys for tots projects and is glad that the Marines have made that their tradition. December went by in a whirl and it hasn't seemed to let up since!
Christmas was really entertaining this year. We wanted to do something different, so the vote was cast for a family talent show - Dr. Suess style! We called it the "Who's got talent?" show, and we all dressed up like Whos from the Christmas classic The Grinch. What a blast! The hairstyles we came up with were outrageous. Edwin's short military cut didn't provide for much creativity, so he decided to be the Grinch. I painted his face/neck/hands green and he wore a santa cap and his green robe and flannel Christmas pj's. You can see all the photos, if you click on the links above.
After Christmas we were rushed to pack up all of our stuff. I was kind of amazed at how much stuff we have. Not that I'm complaining, but I'm sure glad we have lots of storage space at "Grandpas" and with my sister Emily. Anyway, we headed down the Al-Can (Alaska-Canada Highway) with as much as we could possible fit into our vibe. We made the trip with a couple of Edwin's Marine buddies, Jasen and Ethan, who made the trip in their own car for college as well. The guys all thought the trip was like a long military convoy - hardly any sleep, lots of energy drinks, and walkie talkies through Canada. We made it to Seattle in 3 days and we were pretty pooped out! We were fortunate to stay with Jasen and Ethan's hospitable grandparents to recuperate. The boys carried our extra set of tires plus our car top carrier in the bed of their truck. We ended up leaving the tires with their grandparents because we had no more room!
We then made the long drive to Idaho. We got to our apartment and had to smile because we are living in the typical "newly wed" apartment. It is right by the train tracks, so the whole apartment shakes a little each time a train passes by. There a multiple holes, stains, chips and cracks. The stove burners are bent and our curtains are see through. We are getting a little afraid of an electrical fire because the apartment is so old. One of the outlets burned out, some are kind of popping out of the wall, and the bathroom fan sometimes sounds like a dying helicopter. I told Edwin if he didn't help find us an apartment next semester with a dishwasher, he was going to get to do all the dishes - I'm sick of doing them all by hand. Seriously, though, it has been a really fun experience so far and we're creating tons of memories.
January and February flew by and it seems like we're always just trying to keep our heads above water. The homework load was a bit more than we expected, plus Edwin and I both started our jobs recently. Edwin is working with a sales company called Prosper, which sells education/mentor programs for starting online businesses and selling real estate. He still likes it so far and he made his first big sale on Saturday, but says he definitely doesn't want a cubicle job for his future career. I'm just glad he knows what he doesn't want, because the list of things he could do always seems to grow! :) I am working as a nurse assistant to an older quadraplegic fellow. He is super nice, and it's fairly easy, minus having to lift him in and out of chairs. I mostly just prepare meals and do simple strengthening exercises with him. Here's the kicker: he's naked the whole time! If I weren't married, I think it would take a lot more getting used to...but since we prefer less clothes anyway, it's not so strange once you get used to it.
Valentine's weekend Edwin took me back to Seattle so we could pick up our summer tires from Jasen and Ethan's Grandparents. We loved the break from Rexburg's snow! I still don't know if I could handle living with all the rain in Seattle, though Edwin thinks he could. We took a little road trip to Forks, Washington and did the "Twilight Tour" - Forks, La Push, and Port Angeles. We even ate at the restaurant Bella and Edward eat at in the book/movie! I liked the books and have read them all to Edwin (who enjoys them too!) on previous road trips, so it was perfect for Valentine's weekend.
We've made two trips to Provo so far for my dentist appointments and to see Aimee and the Farnsworth clan down there. It sure it nice to see family, and get my baby hungry kick in the process! Now we're just playing catch up since midterms were last week. We're doing well in our classes though, so it's paying off. I love having to take care of our own place and plan/cook our own meals. Tonight for "Family Home Evening" we plan to listen to a devotional and make the sugar cookies Chrissy sent us. We're planning to go back to Alaska for break in April, and we bought the tickets on Saturday. Edwin is going to drill and then officially transfer units (turn in all his gear/fill out paper work) to Salt Lake City. I'm just going back to visit family, as it turns out we will be living here until we're through with school and won't be coming home between semesters. We are also trying to save for a trip back East in August. We'd like to road trip, sight see, camp, and stay with family along the way. I've never really been back East/South, and Edwin really wants to introduce me to his family. We want to visit as much family as possible, so be expecting phone calls! More as plans unfold. This year is our year to travel!
Anyway, I know this was HUGE, so we'll really try and be better about posting monthly. We love you all and hope you are doing well in all of your endeavors. Hope to talk to you soon!
Megan and Edwin
P.S. Funny story: Edwin accidentally left his scriptures on top of the car on our way to church yesterday. They somehow stayed on the edge of the top, even though I was going 40mph. God's word is powerful! haha
Monday, October 26, 2009
My Rules
If you want to marry me, here's what you'll have to do:
You must learn how to make a perfect chicken-dumpling stew.
And you must sew my holey socks,
And soothe my troubled mind,
And develop the knack for scratching my back,
And keep my shoes spotlessly shined.
And while I rest you must rake up the leaves,
And when it is hailing and snowing
You must shovel the walk...and be still when I talk,
And--hey--where are you going?
-Shel Silverstein
Edwin recited this poem by a favorite poet of my childhood for our church talent show. It was hilarious, especially because he dressed up as a "nerd". His outfit was SO good. I'm bummed we didn't get any pictures, but hopefully I can convince him to dress up again...I think he may be a nerd for Halloween. While he was reciting the poem, I came on the stage all prettied up in my black dress. When he saw me, all the rules were forgotten and he chased me off the stage :)
These past two weeks Edwin and I have babysat, participated in the talent show, looked for an apartment, and watched Colony High School's rendition of The Crucible. We've found a place we really want (not because of the looks, believe me - just look at the carpet in the pictures above) and hopefully we can get that squared away ASAP. The apartment is 2 bedroom 1 bath, and is about 12 minutes away from campus. It's only $350 a month plus utilities. Edwin and I decided that now is the best time in our life to go cheap - when we're living the "college" life and don't have a family of our own yet. It doesn't have a washer, dryer, or dishwasher...but we're excited about the small garden and mature apple, plum, and peach trees. I always love watching The Crucible, and it was Edwin's first time seeing the play. It has some great lines, and a great plot too. It was fun seeing a Colony High play, now that we're both graduated and married, since we first met while working on a Colony High play together.
On Friday, October 17 we found a cat on our porch. It was a beautiful black and white cat, but she was totally emaciated. All skin and bones. Mom and I couldn't leave her outside...we had to bring her in and feed her. We don't have a cat ourselves, so it was pure luck that we had cat food in the pantry. I guess my Dad uses it as bait when he goes shrimping. We fed her and loved on her bunches - she was a super friendly cat. Edwin was getting pretty attached (ok, I was too), and we were considering ways we could take her to Idaho with us if we couldn't find the owner. There are basically no apartments in Rexburg that allow pets - including insects, reptiles, or fish for crying out loud. We named her Binx (from the movie Hocus Pocus), until we learned her real name - Bella - when we had her scanned for a microchip. We finally got in contact with her owner today and she's back home. I guess she'd been missing for 6-8 weeks. I wish we had a picture of her to show...I guess I need to be better about that camera. The only thing we have to remember her by is fur on everyone's clothes, along with a new appreciation for nice cats.
This week we have classes, babysitting, a trip to the temple, a Halloween party, and house sitting to look forward to. Edwin and I will be professional house sitters by the end of the year. We are house sitting for 3 different families from Oct.30-Dec.22! Edwin is doing another funeral detail this week with the Marines this week as well. This Saturday I am auditioning to sing at the annual nativity display for Christmas. I hope all is well with everyone. Drop us a note sometime! Love you all,
Megan and Edwin
P.S. You should all check out these pumpkins!!! They're so creative! http://www.extremepumpkins.com/pumpkin-carving-contest-winners.html
Monday, October 12, 2009
Hakuna Matata
Hello everyone!
We've had a few requests to keep family and friends more up to date since our wedding, so we've created this blogspot. Without further ado, here are some of the things we've been up to lately. This past week Edwin has been training for MCMAP (The Marine Corp's version of martial arts) so he can be a brown belt instructor. Edwin has also been volunteering for rifle details at funerals. He looks so handsome in his Marine Corps dress blues. We're also trying to decide on an apartment for when we move down to BYU-Idaho for school. We've found a few promising places and our goal is to have an apartment finalized this week. We are taking a few classes at the local community college, and midterms are this week (wish us luck)! We're not super fond of our classes (mostly just general credits), but we're glad to be getting back in the 'swing of things'. We bought gym passes to a local gym as well, because Edwin has been complaining about his muscle depletion ever since he came home from Iraq :) The winters up here can be hard for me, so I'm hoping this will help keep me active, and keep my seratonin levels up. We just got our PFD's (Permanent Fund Dividends), which we will be putting to good use. For those of you who don't know, the PFD is basically money Alaskan residents receive, just for living in Alaska (jealous?). Actually, most of our PFD money will be going towards paying off school loans, yippee!
We have been having a WONDERFUL autumn - one of the best we've seen up here in a long while. It's still sunny out, with the temperatures near 50 degrees yesterday and today. All the leaves are finally out of the trees though, so snow is probably on its way. I am so excited about Halloween. I just love this time of year! I'm showing Edwin all the joys of some of my favorite Halloween movies. Here is (part of) the list of movies we have already watched or will be watching this month: The Blob, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Hocus Pocus, Watcher in the Woods, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Labrynth, The Worst Witch, The Witches, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, some of the x-files series, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Signs, War of the Worlds, etc. (Ok, so I know some of those are sci-fi, but those are the ones that scare Edwin the most!) Anyway, now you have some ideas if you're looking for good old fashioned Halloween movies! We don't really know what we'll be for Halloween yet, but I do know where we'll be. We'll be house sitting for two families Oct 31-December 4. I hope it doesn't make things too hectic, but I think it may be kind of nice to be "out on our own".
Edwin and I had the opportunity last week to see Lion King: the musical when the broadway tour was up here. WOW! If any of you have the chance to see it, definitely try to. The songs were so powerful, the message applicable, the costumes so creative, and it was just so neat to see a family favorite on stage. They were very talented displaying the traits of the animals; many of the voices even sounded the same as the movie! We got all dressed up for the musical, and we ate at Orso's after (a slightly more ritzy place in Anchorage). Edwin ordered an amazing lamb roast and, although I'm not a huge meat eater myself, it was mighty good!
For those of you who don't know, Edwin and I were called to teach a Sunday School class at our church. We teach the 15-16 year olds, which is interesting because the class is just a few years younger than myself, and consists of my brother and all of his friends! We love it though, and I think the kids like it too, because we're able to relate to them in ways "older" people may not be able to. When we go to BYU we're planning to take a class to become seminary teachers. Edwin thinks that he really wants to be a teacher now, instead of a pilot. He has been taking a ground school course here at the college and he keeps leaning more towards teaching. I would love it if we worked at the same school together one day - him as a teacher and myself as the school nurse. Edwin and I are also now volunteering a night or two a week to babysit for couples in our church who need a date night or want to go to the temple. I'm hoping this will satiate some of Edwin's (and my) baby-hungry-ness, for now, anyway.
This coming week we're going to the A Capella Festivella, a yearly A Capella concert at UAA campus. My sister Aimee took me to one before, it was awesome! It takes a lot of talent to use for voice for singing and making the sounds of instruments as well. Also, an early shout out to Carleen and Ruth - birthdays on the 14th and 16th - no, we haven't forgotten! I hope your card gets to you on time, Ruth! Our church is also having a talent show this Saturday night. Edwin and I are going to try to recite a poem or something for it. I'm thinking something silly, like one of Shel Silverstein's.
Anyway, sorry this is so long. It's been a long time since we've sent out an update email. We love you all and hope you're having a great October so far!
-The Arctic Andersons
We've had a few requests to keep family and friends more up to date since our wedding, so we've created this blogspot. Without further ado, here are some of the things we've been up to lately. This past week Edwin has been training for MCMAP (The Marine Corp's version of martial arts) so he can be a brown belt instructor. Edwin has also been volunteering for rifle details at funerals. He looks so handsome in his Marine Corps dress blues. We're also trying to decide on an apartment for when we move down to BYU-Idaho for school. We've found a few promising places and our goal is to have an apartment finalized this week. We are taking a few classes at the local community college, and midterms are this week (wish us luck)! We're not super fond of our classes (mostly just general credits), but we're glad to be getting back in the 'swing of things'. We bought gym passes to a local gym as well, because Edwin has been complaining about his muscle depletion ever since he came home from Iraq :) The winters up here can be hard for me, so I'm hoping this will help keep me active, and keep my seratonin levels up. We just got our PFD's (Permanent Fund Dividends), which we will be putting to good use. For those of you who don't know, the PFD is basically money Alaskan residents receive, just for living in Alaska (jealous?). Actually, most of our PFD money will be going towards paying off school loans, yippee!
We have been having a WONDERFUL autumn - one of the best we've seen up here in a long while. It's still sunny out, with the temperatures near 50 degrees yesterday and today. All the leaves are finally out of the trees though, so snow is probably on its way. I am so excited about Halloween. I just love this time of year! I'm showing Edwin all the joys of some of my favorite Halloween movies. Here is (part of) the list of movies we have already watched or will be watching this month: The Blob, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Hocus Pocus, Watcher in the Woods, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Labrynth, The Worst Witch, The Witches, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, some of the x-files series, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Signs, War of the Worlds, etc. (Ok, so I know some of those are sci-fi, but those are the ones that scare Edwin the most!) Anyway, now you have some ideas if you're looking for good old fashioned Halloween movies! We don't really know what we'll be for Halloween yet, but I do know where we'll be. We'll be house sitting for two families Oct 31-December 4. I hope it doesn't make things too hectic, but I think it may be kind of nice to be "out on our own".
Edwin and I had the opportunity last week to see Lion King: the musical when the broadway tour was up here. WOW! If any of you have the chance to see it, definitely try to. The songs were so powerful, the message applicable, the costumes so creative, and it was just so neat to see a family favorite on stage. They were very talented displaying the traits of the animals; many of the voices even sounded the same as the movie! We got all dressed up for the musical, and we ate at Orso's after (a slightly more ritzy place in Anchorage). Edwin ordered an amazing lamb roast and, although I'm not a huge meat eater myself, it was mighty good!
For those of you who don't know, Edwin and I were called to teach a Sunday School class at our church. We teach the 15-16 year olds, which is interesting because the class is just a few years younger than myself, and consists of my brother and all of his friends! We love it though, and I think the kids like it too, because we're able to relate to them in ways "older" people may not be able to. When we go to BYU we're planning to take a class to become seminary teachers. Edwin thinks that he really wants to be a teacher now, instead of a pilot. He has been taking a ground school course here at the college and he keeps leaning more towards teaching. I would love it if we worked at the same school together one day - him as a teacher and myself as the school nurse. Edwin and I are also now volunteering a night or two a week to babysit for couples in our church who need a date night or want to go to the temple. I'm hoping this will satiate some of Edwin's (and my) baby-hungry-ness, for now, anyway.
This coming week we're going to the A Capella Festivella, a yearly A Capella concert at UAA campus. My sister Aimee took me to one before, it was awesome! It takes a lot of talent to use for voice for singing and making the sounds of instruments as well. Also, an early shout out to Carleen and Ruth - birthdays on the 14th and 16th - no, we haven't forgotten! I hope your card gets to you on time, Ruth! Our church is also having a talent show this Saturday night. Edwin and I are going to try to recite a poem or something for it. I'm thinking something silly, like one of Shel Silverstein's.
Anyway, sorry this is so long. It's been a long time since we've sent out an update email. We love you all and hope you're having a great October so far!
-The Arctic Andersons
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