Most of my acquaintances know that I am Canadian (well...now I am a Permanent Resident of the United States, but my citizenship is still in Canada). If you didn't, well now you do. :) I grew up in Southern Alberta and am proud to call it home. Because of my upbringing, I have some quirks that are unusual to the general population. For example, this gets me excited beyond belief;
"In fact, ask pretty much any Southern Alberta food lover what they love best about summer, and you'll probably hear about fresh corn on the cob, corn that's grown right here in the province."
Yes. Ugh. I NEED!
This made me miss home. And right now, as I am typing, I want corn on the cob. My mouth is watering, and the fact that it is in season makes me yearn for it even more. You don't usually hear of corn on the cob being the #1 choice in food, but trust me, once you have Taber corn all other corn on the cob pales in comparison. I don't even know the words to describe it, but if you are ever in the Southern Alberta area at the end of August, you must try some.You'll get what I am saying and why I am craving it. PS. Do you think BYU would make going back up to Canada in order to eat some Taber corn a university excused absense? I think they should look into it....
And while I am on the topic of home, this picture makes me want to become a wilderness woman and spend the rest of my life here. It is Waterton Lakes National Park, one of the hidden gems in this world, and I lived about a half and hour away from it. It is so gorgeous!
photo found off Google images at http://stader.com/Photos/Hiking/Bears%20Hump/01%20Fabulous%20View%20of%20Middle%20&%20Upper%20Waterton%20Lakes.jpg
Alex and I at Cameron Falls in Waterton when we were engaged
So now that I have done a motherland rant and pretty much sounded like this guy, (minus the whole "beer commercial" aspect) you can call me a crazy canuck-But I still love me some Taber corn. (right now please...?)
When I was a child I always got excited for school to begin again in the Fall. So excited in fact, that I would get so anxious and excited the night before the first day of school and would end up not being able to sleep and get sick. Twice it happened that I was so excited and anxious that I threw-up the night before and couldn't even go to the first day of school because I was so sick. It's weird, I was/am wierd in that way, and I am pretty sure that I was one of the few who actually anticipated school. As my Mom told Alex this childhood quirk of mine over Skype on Sunday, it was Alex could do not to laugh. And rightfully so.
School began again on Monday and so I have officially begun my Junior year at BYU. I am in my second semester of the Nursing program and am enrolled for 17 credit hours. Meaning life is going to be a bit crazy over the next couple of months. Alex decided to defer this semester because he got a new job as a banker. We are so grateful that he was able to get this job, as it means that he was able to quit all his other jobs and have just one job that would adequately support our family. He decided to defer this semester to accommodate for training, and will resume studying psychology in winter semester.
It will be interesting to see the dynamics of one of us working full-time and one studying in school, as we are used to both of us being in school and stressing over the same type of things. Let's just hope that I haven't rubbed off on Alex too much and that the thought of him not having to go to the Testing Center this semester making him so excited that he throws up. However, the thought of tests and homework and studying makes me sick. And not the excited kind.
It's our first wedding anniversary and we've been married for a whole year!
Picture slideshow created with Smilebox
To celebrate our anniversary, Alex had a surprise up his sleeve. Here's how it went down:
Saturday, August 21
4:46pm Alex sends Tabi a text:Hey do you want to pick me up at around 5:20 from work? I was able to get out of work a bit earlier so that way there is no rush to get to dinner. If you want bring the camera.
Tabi: Ok! Sounds great! Cya soon.
5:23pm
Tabi goes to pick up Alex from his workplace. Tabi asks what they are going to do until their dinner reservations at 7pm. Alex gets this devilish grin on his face and then tells Tabi to close her eyes and covers her face as he fidgets with the glove compartment and begins to drive south.
Tabi: What are we doing? Alex:I dunno. Tabi: Well obviously you do. 'Cuz you're driving. Alex: That may be true...
They hit the I-15 turn-off that eventually leads to Las Vegas.
Tabi: ALEX! Why are we getting on the interstate? Alex:I dunno, what did the sign say? Tabi: VEGAS?! NO WAY. I didn't pack anything. Alex: Did you check the trunk today? And who is to say that I didn't put your passport in the glove compartment just now... Tabi: What is going on? Did you grab my passport? Alex: No. Tabi: Well then what are we doing? WHERE ARE WE GOING?! Alex: It's a surprise. I feel like Roberto.(Bachelorette reference) Tabi: So you are taking me on a tight rope walk? Or wait...in a helicopter?
Alex shakes his head in a "no" response. The wheels in Tabi's head begin turning as she recalls back to when they were dating...
Tabi: WAIT. Are we going to go fly in an airplane with the gift certificate we won back when we were dating? Alex: Maybe...yes. Tabi: AHHHHHHH! NO WAY! I THOUGHT WE LOST THEM! WHERE'D YOU FIND THEM? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLANNING THIS?...blahblahblah etc.
So we continued to Spanish Fork to the "airport", making a quick stop en route to pick up a Sprite in case either of us got sick in the small aircraft. When we got to the airport, we soon found out that our gift certificate's purpose included allowing one of the passengers to try flying the plane while up in the air as an incentive to convince the passengers to sign up for flying lessons. So I graciously let Alex be the one who would fly the plane under the watchful eye of the pilot and Alex loved it! We had a safe thirty minute flight, and the view was incredible!
My head gear did not work the entire flight. Whenever I spoke it would be patchy in the audio and make no sense. But at least I looked cute right?
Our pilot, Bob, showing Alex what he needed to do.
The view was great!
Alex taking over the controls
Flying the plane
Alex trying his hand at banking the plane. This was the only part of the flight that I was uncomfortable. Alex was doing great, but the plane had to be banked at such an odd angle due to its size that I started freaking out as I realized "Hey this is like a rollercoaster...except...we are not on a track...YIKES!"
Once we landed and I drank enough water to flood the Sahara in an attempt to calm my slightly frazzled self, we headed off to Tucanos to eat. As usual, it held up to its reputation of being delicious, but also as usual, we ate way too much to the point of feeling grossly full and sick afterwards. We then headed home, snuggled up, and watched "Kate and Leopold".
Alex decided to try one of the chicken hearts that they brought around. He is a lot more adventurous than I am. As you can also see from the remainder of food on Alex's plate, we ate a lot of meat in general. Hence the whole "grossly full and sick" feeling.
The next day, our anniversary, was spent just being with each other which is always the best. So here's to one year of marriage, and many more years to come. I can't hardly wait to see what adventures lie ahead of us in the upcoming years, and I know that with my Alex, they will be great!
Early in the wee hours of this morning as Tabitha is deeply slumbering...
Alex (sitting straight up in bed): GROSS! GROSS!
Tabi (promptly woken up): WHAT?! What's going on Alex?
Alex (gibberish mumbling and a quick return to sleep)
Tabitha's alarm rings at 5:20am to wake her for an early shift at work
(Alarm ringing)
Alex gets out of bed and tries to turn off the alarm before Tabitha even reaches it
Tabi: Alex what are you doing?
Alex: I have to turn it off!
Tabi: No you don't. It's okay, I've got it.
Alex: Oh okay.... (quickly falls asleep again)
Tabitha is slightly confused and is afraid after the collective transpirings throughout this morning that Alex may have finally cracked.
In Alex's defense he had no recollection of the first incident, and barely remembers the second incident. aka He was sleep talking-which he has never done in our almost one year of marriage. So I think it is cute and hilarious at the same time. Hence, me sharing this story.
*****
Okay, so it is not fair to tell a story about Alex unless I dish one about myself that happened about a month ago.
Alex and Tabitha are snuggling and talking in bed. For some reason, they get on a topic where Alex is asking questions about Tabitha.
Alex: Do you like baking?
Tabi: Yes
Alex: Do you like playing the clarinet?
Tabi: Yep
Alex: Do you like scrapbooking?
Tabi: Yessss
Alex: Do you like waterboarding?
Tabi: Yep
Alex begins to giggle
Tabi (slightly confused): I've only done it once though
Alex begins to laugh hysterically
Tabi (even more confused): What Alex? Waterboarding? Like waterskiing?!?...........Oh. Waterboarding.
They both begin to laugh as Tabitha has finally realized that "waterboarding " is definitely not a favorite pastime of hers.
*****
Alex sent me this today. And I wish it was real. A fusion of my two favorite recent movies? Yes please!
*****
Alex came home to pick up the car to go to his second job a little while ago. He presented me with this...
It is the remains of a phone book he tore IN HALF at work. There are witnesses and everything. Guess it must have been a slow day...
Don't be jealous. My husband can tear phone books in half AND make me smile.
Alex is officially 23! His birthday was yesterday and was celebrated by having a big breakfast in the morning and opening up gifts. Then he headed off to work until 7pm and when he got home we ate take-out Thai food from Bangkok Grill. It was SO delicious! Then we ate some of the birthday cake I made during the day and snuggled up to watch a couple of episodes of 24 (season 3-so we're a little behind....so what?!) Here are some pictures of the birthday boy;
We went to Lagoon with the Schultz Family on Friday. We had so much fun and appreciate their generosity in inviting us, as well as driving us up there. Here is a general pictorial sum-up of what we did.
We got a little wet on this
I was so excited to go on this, but when I actually went I almost pooped myself
I was terrified to go on this, but Alex convinced me otherwise and I loved it
We went on this a lot, including one time where we yodeled throughout half the ride
We got DRENCHED on this and were wet for most of the night, but it was worth it
We rode on this "Wicked" awesome rollercoaster
We acted like pirates and people looked at us funny on this
We rode this at the end of the night and smooched; it was so romantic
(Pictures found off the Lagoon website or Google search)
I woke up to the sound of thunder this morning, heard rain pattering sparatically throughout the day, and right now am enjoying another big storm that has come rolling in. The windows in our little home have been opened throughout most of this time too, as I have taken in the elements outside. This has been my favorite day of the week.
"Why?" you may ask...
Because. I. Love. Thunderstorms.
My earliest vivid memory dealt with a thunderstorm. I was four years old, and my younger sister was a newborn. We were living in a townhouse-style complex, and my Dad was working late hours at "Klondike Days" in Edmonton. I remember a huge thunderstorm happening one night when he was working. My whole room lit up, and I remember waking up crying because I was so scared. I remember walking down the hall to my parent's room, where Lindsay was screaming and crying. My memory then jumps to snuggling with my Mom in bed as she comforted both myself and my newborn sister.
I also remember my childhood best friend later on telling me that she heard that when there is a thunderstorm it means God is bowling. The thunder is the part where the balls are going down the alley, and the lightning is taking pictures if someone got a strike. I always liked that description, and looking back think it is a cute explanation for something that as a child, is confusing to fully understand.
It's strange that what was once a phenomenon that frightened me so much as to make a strong impact on my young impressionable mind, is now something that I anticipate and enjoy. I love how thunderstorms make me want to cozy up in a homemade blanket, look out the window, and take it all in. Listening to the thunder, seeing the lightning, feeling that sense of excitement, and realizing that these are the moments that make life wonderful.
Since we have been married, I have been bugging Alex to get me a puppy. But, not just any old puppy-specifically a yorkie terrier. In fact, one that looks exactly like this;
Isn't it cute?!
Fast forward to this past Tuesday. Alex and I bought a secondhand Wii from KSL (yay!) which came with the "Mario Party" and "Super Mario Brothers" games. While we have only played our Wii a couple of times, I have come to a prompt decision.
Now, the yorkie terrier is a thing of the past. I want Yoshi.
Alex makes fun of me (and rightfully so) for fancying the little character. I think it is the cutest thing and have proposed to him that I will never talk about a puppy again if he gets me this as a substitute.
I think it is a fair trade don't you? No vet visits, cleaning after it, or buying food, but still the same level of looking at it and going "CUTE!" (plus it is only $5.99) However when I proposed this brilliant idea to Alex this morning he looked at me, laughed, said "No way" (to both Yoshi AND a puppy...drat) followed by "Goodness you are adorable", a kiss on the cheek and the lips, and that was the end.
Meh. This doesn't change the fact that I will still pick Yoshi to play all the games with.
Maybe Alex would go for something like this-with the exact same awkward hand positioning and wary smile;
