Living with Livingstons

Kacey's Mustache March

During the month of March, Kacey's work had a mustache competition. Whoever won would get a $100 girt card at Best Buy. Kacey really wanted to win. Ever since school ended for us in December, Kacey had been growing his facial hair (which I hated). Anyway, the night before the pictures were to be taken Kacey made me help him shave his face... Here's how it turned out.

No word on who won yet.

Lucy

Today, my baby girl was put to rest. I got Lucy for my 12th birthday from my brother, Abe. She has been my best friend ever since then. She knew when I was upset and would frequently come sit with me to make me feel better. She gave you five and had a bit of an attitude. Over the last year she lived with my mom because we couldn't have her here in Idaho. The past couple monthes her health deterioted to the point where she would be suffering if she stayed alive much longer. I had my baby girl for 10 years. I loved her and she is dearly missed.

This picture taken this morning.

Recent Happenings

So, our lives really haven't been all that eventful until recently. Kacey and I finished our applications to BYU on January 31 and then waited for four weeks to hear anything. If we didn't get in this semester all hopes for transferring out of Idaho were lost. By the time we could apply again I would have too many credits to transfer. Anyway, February 25 came and our wait was over, so we thought. Kacey was accepted but I was not. I was devastated because I felt like I was holding Kacey back and had not idea what to do. Did I drop out of school and let Kacey go to BYU? Did we stay and apply again? Did we go and then have me apply again once we got there? When I was at Colorado State, I had a Calculus 3 teacher that didn't speak English well enough to answer our questions or really to even explain the subject matter. Math is a "universal language" but only when the person reading it already knows what it means. The teacher needs to be able to convey what the math means and mine just couldn't. Anyway, I ended up with a D in a 4 credit class that KILLED my GPA. It made my transfer GPA a 3.43 compared to Kacey's 3.8. Anyway, Kacey spent the next week trying to get a hold of admissions to see what they suggested to us. He finally did and they put my application in review considering that Kacey got in and he wouldn't be going if I didn't get in. So, we waited again. On March 10 we got our answer. BYU decided to let me in! So, we are moving to Utah after this semester is over with in July. School starts there in late August. I'm happy they let me in but it's not the same feeling as if I would have gotten in on my own. I only got in because of Kacey. Regardless I'm grateful.

Valentine's Day Cards

Here are some cards that I made for Valentine's Day. Granted they are very similar but I like them.

Winter In Rexburg

Today Kacey and I drove around and took pictures on the snow in Rexburg.

These are the icicles on our apartment building.

First Week of 2011

The first week of 2011 has been pretty relaxed for the most part. Kacey is working at Best Buy and found out this week that they are keeping him on. Kacey and I were both hired on as seasonal temporary workers and have both been hired on as permenant. Which is a HUGE releif. We're barely making enough to get by without our student loans but we are making it! Such a blessing! I was recently promoted to FES (front end supervisor) at Michaels! I'm excited about it. It's not much of a pay increase but it is a lot more hours. I'm going from working maybe 12 hours a week to working at least 20 a week. Kacey somehow has a knack for taking other people's shifts at work. He's been scheduled on average about 15 hours a week and usually ends up working 30+ with all the shifts he works for people.

Kacey and I are both finding ourselves with a lot of free time because we are not in school until April. I have picked up another hobby/craft that I've been wanting to do since I was in high school. KNITTING! I've had a Knifty Knitter for quite a while and have made this with it.

It's a shawl/scarf.

The other day I got bored enough to pick up my knitting books that I've had for a LONG time and figure out how to knit using the needles. And I found that it really isn't all that hard! I think the hardest part is keeping count of my stiches.

Kacey has me working on a blanket. I started it and realized that I didn't have the right sized needles so I ordered the right ones online and am waiting for them to come so I can start over.

I've also done quite a few more scrapbook pages. I've gotten pretty far behind on them and now I have the time to catch up. I'm really glad I have this blog because it helps me remember what we've done and what to scrapbook.

Anyway, that's all for now!

The Rest of 2010

After Thanksgiving Kacey and I were pretty busy. We had 3 weeks of school left including finals week plus work. We made it out of school pretty well. Kacey finished with a 3.8 GPA and I finished with a 4.0! Which makes us both really excited! For one, that means I keep my full acedemic scholarship and two, that Kacey should be eligable for a scholarship when it comes around again! That means we should both have scholarships, loans, and our jobs to support us through school! What a blessing!

Kacey and I are also putting our applications into BYU in Provo. If we don't get in this time we will be completing our educaitons at BYU-Idaho. We'd really like to get to Provo so we can be closer to family and be rid of these rediculously cold days. Yes, Provo gets cold but not like Rexburg. It hasn't been above 30ish since Thanksgiving and most days we're lucky to hit the double digits. Needless to say, we spend a lot of time inside.

This year for Christmas Kacey and I were not able to be in Colorado due to work and money. However, my mom came out here to spend it with us. It was a much needed visit for both Kacey and me. We've both had a hard time this past semester being away from family and living in a small town. My mom got here on Tuesday, December 21 and left Sunday, December 26. Her visit was enough of a Christmas present for us but she also dediced to stock our pantry and fridge. Take a look at this picture of all our food! Keep in mind it's still not all put away and our fridge (and freezers for that matter) are stocked to the brim.

She also got us some other things for Christmas including this.

I think it's beautiful.

Kacey's favorite gift came from his parents. He's been wanting one since we got married.

Now, he tries to fry everything and recently bought a pack of twinkies that he swears I will love fried. I think I should be afraid...

Kacey got me this.

I've been wanting a label maker for a really long time. I don't really have a use for one but I LOVE IT! I keep finding things to label that really don't need labels. I guess one day it will help me have an organized house (haha).

My sister sent us this cook book that I'm really excited about.

I keep looking at the small ones but never bought one and now we have the BIG one! Kacey's Grandma Livingston sent us a cookbook as well and my mom gave me a couple. I think they are all trying to send me a message...

When Kacey and I got married my mom gave us a "family" ornament for our first Christmas together. I liked the idea of getting one every year. Here is this year's.

There is no where that I found around here that sells the kinds I was looking for so I ended up buying this one at my work (Michaels).

For Christmas dinner, Kacey made a ham that we've had in our freezer for almost a year and it turned out really good. I had the sides and it was a nice dinner. Christmas was just a lazy day hanging out at home and cooking. It was nice to just relax with Kacey and my mom.

Christmas came and went and I cried when it was time for my mom to go home. And then it was back to life for Kacey and me. We spent New Year's Eve at home doing absolutly nothing. In fact Kacey watched TV downstairs while I watched something else up in our bedroom. (I know we're really exciting).

And thus ended our 2010.

Thanksgiving!

Kacey and I ended up staying in Idaho for Thanksgiving because we both had to work. I wanted to have some people over since we were going to be here but Kacey said he wanted it to be just us. We ended up having Thanksgiving with just the two of us, partly because that's what Kacey wanted and because everyone we would have invited over either had plans already or were going out of town. Anyway, Kacey made the turkey and put together the pie and I made everything else. Everything turned out REALLY good and I was quite impressed with myself. Here are my pictures from the "feast."

More Photography Projects

Well, I ended up getting a good grade on my portraits so I'm really happy with that. Here are my subject exploration photos that I did almost a month ago now. Enjoy!

Kacey's New Toy

When we moved to Idaho we knew that Kacey's car would not be able to move in the winter. Well, winter has been in Idaho for a while now and Kacey's car has not moved more the 10 feet. Kacey has wanted a truck ever since he started working for himself back in April 2009. Luckily Kacey was able to use my mom's truck (the same one I drove in high school) but it wouldn't make it to Idaho and we really didn't want it to. Anyway, since we moved here Kacey has vamped up the truck search and dragged me around from dealership to dealership weekend after weekend. All of them were too expensive for us to afford and Kacey was getting really discouraged. One day, he found this truck on the side of the road and it was everything he was looking for (except for a crew cab) and it was $10,000 less than anything the dealerships had. Needless to say, Kacey got what he wanted once again. He bought the truck and has been in heaven ever since. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.