Thai Lotus

This weekend we went to a new Thai restaurant . . . an amazing new Thai restaurant. It was a hole in the wall but it was really good. We met up with my friend Tania from college and her husband Alex. They went to Thailand about 9 months before we did - they were actually the ones that helped talk us into going there. It was fun to reminisce about what an amazing country it is. If you love Thai food, I highly recommend Thai Lotus, you won't regret it.

Hot Cocoa

Tonight was wear your slipper socks and stretch pants to 711 and curl up with hot coco while watching shows with your love kinda night.

and yes, I apologize for the outfit.

Welcome

Fall is my most favorite season. I love the weather, I love the smells, I love the holidays and the food that are associated with it. I love that fall reminds me of school supplies (I have a secret love for school supplies - maybe this is why I always wanted to be a teacher?) I also love that it reminds me of wearing sweaters, boots, and scarves. This year fall is even more special because I didn't get one last year. I know it was only one year and I was in paradise and I could smell the ocean from my kitchen buuuuut I still missed it. I even tried to decorate our shack for Halloween, but it just felt wrong. This weekend we did lots of fall-ish things.

On Friday I made banana bread and we watched our shows. . .  Another thing I love about fall is that all of our shows return! Happy Endings is the funniest show on TV. There I said it.

On Saturday night I hung out with my mommy. We did fall pedicures and made a craft together. It was fun to hang out while the boys were at their meeting.

This witch block represents my one and only Halloween decoration. When I was little, I loved helping my mom decorate for Halloween - in fact, it was tradition to do it during Saturday General Conference. Now that we are here to stay in Utah I can start my collection. Rod thinks it's silly and typical, but I think it's fun.

Conference was wonderful as usual. I love listening to the words of wisdom that somehow always turn out to be exactly what I needed to hear. 

Welcome Autumn.

Mrs. R

Things have been so routine lately. Part of us feels like we've sold out, as we devote all of our time to work. I guess this is part of growing up. One upside is that we wake up around the same time, get ready together in the morning, eat breakfast together, leave for work around the same time, and get home at the same time.

A few days ago I caught Tanya being cute on the way out the door.

I'm pretty sure she's the fun/cool/hot teacher at American Preparatory Academy. Tomorrow she has parent teacher conferences - so grown up!

We're always home by 4:30 with plenty more together time (usually talking ourselves into training for our half marathon or getting back into "our shows.")

Life is routine - and that's okay.

MBA

Life is about to get a lot crazier - I just found out today that I am accepted into the Professional MBA Program at the University of Utah! And I'm starting in January!

Ever since I graduated from BYU, I have known that I wanted to go back and get a Master's Degree. This became even more important as I entered the real world and saw how competitive the job market is, even with a Bachelor's Degree. To do the things that I want to in my career, I need more education.

I took the GMAT last Summer right after I graduated, and I got a pretty good overall score. However, the math section was a little low. I thought I might have to re-take it just for that reason. I have been studying for the last two months and signed up to re-take it on September 21st. Meanwhile I applied for this program anyway, with my original score. 

Now that I'm in, I have zero motivation to take it, and they DO NOT give refunds. Last Summer my friend Curtis took the GMAT around the same time as me. He had a bad accident involving his finger being sliced open by a fish bowl, and he couldn't even write. They gave him so much trouble for just trying to reschedule his test. Basically I just threw $250 down the drain, and I'm probably going to take the stupid thing anyway (all 4 hours) since I already paid for it. 

Despite the GMAT drama, I'm thrilled. This program is perfect because it allows you to continue working full-time, while attending classes two nights a week. I will be crazy busy, but I think it's doable. I love my job and couldn't imagine walking away from it to go back to school. I was also adamant about going to a different school than BYU, to get a whole different experience.

Class of 2014 up in HURRR!

East Canyon

We just returned from yet another East Canyon adventure. A place where time has been standing still since 1992. The outdoor scenery is beautiful and the company was wonderful. Rod's family is so nice to let us have the condo whenever there are weeks that have not been used and I personally have been up to this mountain retreat 3 times. Each time is different and always highly enjoyable. The junk food was at full volume and I think I speak for all of us when I say - the diet starts tomorrow. We ran into a snag when the pool/hot tub area was closed for lightning sightings. We waited patiently, but after a while the storm had stopped and the people who run the joint were no where to be found. FINALLY we were able to call the manager and she found the missing staff. Rod almost got caned by a stout and short tempered employee, but I think overall he would say the time in the hot tub and pool was well worth it. Thanks East Canyon! I'm sure we'll be back . . . as long as we are still welcome.

The only thing that would have made the weekend better would be my pink snuggie. Yes, this is currently my favorite picture. Thanks Ash.

Up At 4

It's 4 a.m. and I (Rodney) can't sleep.  This is upsetting, but I'll do a blog post and hopefully make myself tired again so I can catch another hour before the 6:30 alarm.  Here's a random slew of what's been happening lately in our lives.  

My Birthday came and went and I'm 27.  27 seems so old, but I don't feel too old so it's okay.  Tannie knows what i like, so she bought me a black Wii!  

Donkey Kong Country Returns = favorite game ever (possibly tied with Mario Kart).  I grew up playing every Donkey Kong game that existed, and this one is like all of them rolled into one, then injected with steroids and acid, with 15 years of updated technology.  Some nights, we get so into it that we have to remind ourselves that it's just a game.  

Tanya is going to kill me for posting this.  Sorry loves.  She's so nice and always makes me whatever cake I want for my birthday.  Remember last year's Funfetti incident?  The one where our burner was left on and the cake that was supposed to be cooling was actually being burned from the bottom?  And then when we realized what was going on, we moved it to the cool granite counter top to recuperate?  And then the part where our Pyrex (and cake) exploded into a million pieces?  This year she was determined to make up for it.  I wanted pineapple upside-down cake and she even went to the store to get the maraschino cherries.  Somehow the cake slipped and this is the result.  Honestly, I don't even care how it looks, it was HANDS DOWN the best cake I've ever eaten.  Thanks boo!

 Our friends C&A gifted us this old window that they came across.  

 We've been searching for one for awhile now.  We love it and think it fits perfectly with our other decor.

I heard this news today.  What?  It's kind of scary to me because I had 2 interviews with them in July and was a likely candidate to work for their marketing department.  In the end, they actually didn't hire anyone for this position, and now I see why.  I really dodged a bullet.  Everything happens for a reason and I'm glad I didn't have to be a part of this PR nightmare!

Speaking of working, I love my job!  I work with awesome, creative people.  There are 6 of us in the marketing department, and we all get along swimmingly.  I am in charge of the company blog, the company e-newsletter, the company's social media accounts, and any other copy writing that needs to be done. 

 After today, Tanya will have survived her first week of being a teacher!  It hasn't been easy, but yesterday she commented "there's something to be said about working a 13 hour day and then being excited to go back the next morning."  Touche.  When she started on Monday, her brand new school wasn't even finished.  Her classroom had no desks, no chairs, no bulletin boards, etc.  She is a P.E. teacher and the gym is not done yet (and might not be until December).  There is no grass planted outside of the school.  She has been a trooper and loves having control over her own classroom.  When she told her health classes that she would be their P.E. teacher next semester, they cheered.  Yeah, she's that teacher.

We (along with everyone else) recently discovered Pinterest.  It didn't take long to come up with a pinboard of future travel dreams.

Happy Friday and Labor Day!