Rexburg Rapids!

Nic and I have had a crazy couple of weeks but let me tell you what, it's good to be home and get back to normal life. It's sad to say that normal life consists of going to classes, dropping Nic off at work, cleaning, homework, picking Nic up, and going to bed. Life is crazy right now but I just have to enjoy it because no matter how crazy it gets, I'm still as happy as ever.

We went to Nic's family reunion for the Evan's family last weekend! It was fun to see everyone and finally meet his entire family. We only got to stay for a day or so because Nic was starting his new job! Nic got a job at Melaleuca and it has been a huge blessing! They sell amazing lotions, shampoos, vitamins, and much much more. He loves going to work. It's a great environment full of fun people, I'm so happy for him and glad that he can go to work not dreading it. I'm still working at the same 'ol testing center. Every semester I say I am done working there but for some reason I just can never quit! It's a great on-campus job and has awesome people.I learn more and more things about BYU-Idaho every semester year that I'm here. Today, Nic and I walked all around the brand new BYU-I Center for the first time since we've moved back. We've been to the basketball courts and indoor track before but we've never actually walked through it all. Let me tell you, it's beautiful. There's a certain peaceful spirit that lingers all around the building and it makes you never want to leave. There are HUGE beautiful pictures of Christ and his life all around the doors to the auditorium. We're so lucky to go to a school that can provide us with the things BYU-I does. Rexburg may be cold in the winter and hot in the summer, but it really is a great place to go to college and learn about the world around you. We can go to a class and talk freely about religion and the gospel and apply it to our education. It really is an awesome experience and I'm so grateful that I can go here.

Now on to Rexburg Rapids! Rexburg FINALLY opened up an outdoor pool with slides, a kiddy section, and even a lazy river!! Nic and I went for the first time last Saturday and it was SO fun! I've missed swimming and just being in the water so bad. This will have to hold us over until we can finally jump into the ocean-which is my absolute favorite place to swim. It's a great way to have fun and for kids to play. I really think that every city or town needs a place for kids to go and escape and have fun outdoors. We are all inside most of the days and forget about the amazing things that we have around us. Having a pool in Rexburg will hopefully get people outdoors!

The semester is almost over! Thank goodness. The McKinley family is coming to visit July 15 and I am so excited to have them here!!! They have never been here in the summer haha I feel so bad that they've only experienced Rexburg in the winter-not so fun. I wish Boo Boo, Nick Rowe, and Steph could be here too! :( It will still be fun and we get to have some summer sun! Miss you all!

My birthday!!

Wow, I really need to get better at finding time to blog! It's been a busy couple of weeks. Lots of fun and lots of work. We stayed up until 1:30 in the morning one night just doing homework. Then we wake up the next morning at 8 ready for more classes. I can't wait for this spring semester to be over so we can start having some fun-and a little break. So here's a little update about the things that we've been up to.

Last Wednesday, May 25th, it was my birthday! It didn't really feel like my birthday until Nic got home with flowers, a coldestone cake, and a couple presents-he has a secret hiding place in our apartment that I still have yet to find. So I opened up my presents and I was so happy. I got a gorgeous new white ceramic watch and a new dress. I got to open up several cards from Nic's family and one from mine and read all the nice birthday wishes. We just celebrated the rest of the day and went to Idaho Falls for dinner-Texas Road House! Yum. We came home in a rush to get Nic to his football game and he made it there right on time. It was one of the best birthdays I've had. All because of Nic. :)

Mom, I promised I would tell you how I like this cook book, so here it is! I got this crock-pot cook book from my mom that I've been dyinggg to have. It's called 365 Days of of slow cooking. Karen Peterson wrote it after having done 365 days of cooking in the slow cooker and blogging about each one. She rated each recipe on 1-5 stars. 1 being the absolute worst and 5 being absolutely amazing. I've only tried one recipe from this particular book and so far it's been great. Nic and I have decided that we're pork people, not really beef. (Unless it's a steak, of course)

So I was going through the pork section and came across ribs, roasts, and even pork chops. I decided on making a "root beer pork roast." Let me just say, yum. It's a really easy recipe and the only thing that I was missing was the worcestershire sauce. (which I used bbq sauce instead-not thrilled with that idea) I still can't even say worcestershire. It's impossible to me. Anyways, you put the pork on a bun, tortillas, or just plain eat it alone. Every one of those is good! Nic ate it by itself and I put it on a tortilla. It was amazing. The flavors blended perfectly and it was a bomb in your mouth. I can't wait to try some more!
(These pictures are for you, momma!)