Procrastination

I hate it when I get behind on the blog....I even have a lot to post about but just get overwhelmed with how much there is to share.
Which makes me put off posting.
Then when I consider catching up it's just so much easier to procrastinate.
So I get even more behind.
And so the cycle continues.
I really should try to catch up....

Maybe later :)

Moving

There is something about this:
That makes you want to do that

Even though I thought I'd never be done cleaning, packing, and doing more cleaning we finally successfully tied up all of the loose ends in Chico and bid farewell to our little abode at Apartment #12. We were sad to leave and really miss everyone we left behind!

Beautiful Bidwell Park

Jared and I love to walk...and I mean really love to walk. We have treasured our nearly everyday strolls together since we first met. In fact, it was the time that we spent together on our little exertions that made me fall for him. There is just something so incredibly cleansing about stepping outside and soaking in the majesty of nature. We feel extremely blessed to live so close to beautiful Bidwell Park, Chico's 3,670 acre park. I think it is such a gem and being a country girl, really appreciate the escape it provides. Sometimes it is hard to believe that you are still in the city because of the denseness of the forest above and all around you. The park is at the height of its splendor this spring and Jared and I take every opportunity we can to break away from life for a little while to take it all in. I posted a slide show of all of the pictures we've taken on the side bar and included a few below that were taken all along my favorite trail. I love how green everything is!

It is funny because when we first moved to California I was not that big of a fan of oak trees because I do not like the way they look during the scorching summer--their leaves turn a nasty burnt looking green. However, I have come to really appreciate them in the winter and especially the spring when they become so vibrantly green. They are such a mighty looking tree, one that looks incredibly wise and weathered. They look like they have such stories to tell. Yeah, I know I am crazy...thinking that trees are wise and have stories to tell. I guess I have an active imagination :)

I think the best cure to a long, hard day is to escape for a while in nature. God has created such an exquisite world for us to enjoy and it is sometimes too easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life and forget to take a moment to appreciate the many wonders around us. For me at least, it really brings solace to my soul.

The little things that make life bearable

Life always seems more than willing to remind you that if you think things are bad they can always get worse! I'm not sure what this ridiculous plant has against me but we don't agree with each other under any circumstances. It seems so harmless but don't be fooled. At least with me, just one brush of these nasty oily leaves and you're in for some extreme misery! I'm not even quite sure how I got into it yet again since I've avoided it like the plague that it is since my last bout with it. At least my previous poison oak experience was primarily centered on my arms...this time it is concentrated on my ears and the side of my face. Needless to say, I've been grossing out anyone who lays eyes on me with my swollen, Dumbo ear and pussy, oozing blisters on my face! Quasimodo here I come!

I have wanted to take a scrub brush to my face it itches so bad! I thought I would spare everyone and not include pictures :)

All I can say is how grateful I am for a certain cold war chemical engineer, Dr. Robert Smith, who created a waterless cleanser (named Tecnu) capable of removing radioactive dust from skin and clothing. His lovely wife later accidentally discovered that Tecnu was capable of cleansing skin and clothes of the noxious oils from poison oak and ivy. Pretty extreme when you think about it....radioactive dust and poison oak oils being lumped together and remedied by the same substance. This little bottle of milky, white liquid has been my one respite from the itching and swelling. It makes everything seem bearable for about 5 minutes---and then I go back to wanting the scrub brush again :)

On a more positive note, I am ecstatic about General Conference tomorrow! What a blessing it is to listen to our inspired leaders for two whole days! It always feels like such a recharge and helps me put everything back into perspective. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Easter!

Random Snippets

Since I haven't blogged about anything since Christmas, here is a random sampling of what we've been up to the last few months---besides working and writing papers :)
Firstly, Jared turned 30 on February 10th!!! He actually took it quite well and mourned/moped about how old he is getting more last year than this birthday. He requested Shrimp Scampi and German Chocolate Cake for his Birthday feast....YUM! I'm not sure why he looks so thrilled in this picture--I think he wanted me to just put the camera down and let him eat.

















Here he is preparing to put out the fire...














It's been beautiful here lately and Jared and I love to take walks in Bidwell Park to soak up the beauties of spring. I have loved all of the blossoms...it reminds me of home with all of the orchards in bloom.

I think the dormant oak trees look neat with the carpet of green underneath.







I couldn't resist sharing this picture of our adorable little nephew Samuel going to town on his birthday cake...looks like he enjoys chocolate as much as I do! He just turned 1 last Saturday and is such a cute little guy :)

And last but not least....these are one of the reasons I really appreciate this time of year so much:

The unfortunate thing is I tend to appreciate these heavenly little morsels a bit too much, requiring me to exercise the self control that simply doesn't exist when chocolate enters the picture.

Christmas

I thought since it was nearly Valentines Day I had better try to get some kind of a Christmas post up. I just put together an extremely random sampling of pictures from our time we spent up in Washington for Christmas. As always we had a wonderful time and the break went by way to fast. We basically spent our Christmas/New Years holiday relaxing, baking, eating, visiting with all the fam, some more eating, hiking to the ridge to attempt to burn off the goodies, eating, watching football, etc.

Here is Mom with Guy, the nice cat at home. He absolutely relishes any kind of attention and loves to curl up on your lap for as long as you will allow him to.



This is D'artagnan the snob, also known as Darty who thinks it beneath him to mingle with the riff-raff below. He hardly ever lets anyone close to him (except for a chosen few) and I considered myself lucky this visit to actually get a few caresses in before he had had enough of me.


He loves to bask by the wood stove. I love the look on his face :)













Arita and Ginger by the Christmas tree. I miss all of the animals back home!



My beautiful sisters Lisa and Arita. I miss them so much!

















My sweetie by the Christmas tree


This is the "hat" that Mom was running around in outside one day when Dad came home....needless to say after looking around to make sure none of the neighbors had observed this, he whisked her inside and made a mental note on a much needed future Christmas present. And thanks to Lisa, below is Mom modeling her new head scarf/wrap. She looks so cute!




















Jared saw this flag at Chico State and knowing how much dad loves Chico(that word is dripping with sarcasm), he just had to get it for Dad





Dad displaying how he really feels about Chico :)

Halloween Black Cat Cookies

It's been a crazy busy week and since I finally have no really big obligations today I think I'll unwind with some holiday baking! Kristin and I started making these yummy cookies a few years before we went off to college and now it's a tradition that I look forward to each year and nothing is fun in my book until you add something sweet! I just wish I could make them with my lovely sisters....I miss baking with them. Perhaps I can try to peel Jared away from his football to help roll the balls in sugar :) I'm not holding my breath though today is supposed to be epic....BYU is playing TCU! For those who know me best it's impressive that I even know that....it's amazing what you get into when your sweetheart lives and breathes sports.

Here is the website where you can find the yummy recipe:

htttp://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Black-Cat-Cookies