Fall Madness

Hi friends!

These past few months have been such a whirlwind of events. Daniel continues his internship with success. He was nominated for an award in his internship program. I'm betting that he wins that award! We'll find out next week.

Meanwhile, I've been busy with school and other committments. I'm currently a Graduate Assistant at school, which means that I grade papers for a living. Fun times. Also, I've been marching along the first semester of my graduate education. It's been difficult. For instance, today is Veteran's Day- a day off from school- and 90% of my activities today have been/will be centered on school work. I'm especially hard at work on the very important Literature Review for my thesis, which is due next Wednesday...

However, Daniel and I have experienced many wonderful "pauses" in the late summer/early fall months. Our beautiful & talented friend, Adria Scarborough, took pictures of us on a wonderful windy day in Bakersfield.

Also, we celebrated my cousin's wedding with all the family.

Me and my friends Natasha, Amanda, and Sarah met together for the first time in a few years.

Now, we welcome November and December with open arms. I'm ready for Thanksgiving & Christmas (though I'll try really hard not to go overboard on eating). I love the holiday season!

So now, I'll end this message with cheer. Happy Thanksgiving!

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

So, summer is upon us. Or is it? Thanks to an El Nino year, it's been raining and (in Tehachapi) snowing into the month of May.

Daniel and I are currently living out our days in Lancaster, CA. This city doesn't have a whole lot to offer. It really makes me miss Bakersfield. Between problems with our apartment management to loud and obnoxious neighbors, Lancaster is not on my list of favorite places to live. The only perks are our proximity to the grocery store, and a nearby unsettled field to run in.

Please forgive me for complaining. I really do that too much.

For me, I've been filling my days with crafts and reading. I haven't been employed for our entire time here. Instead, I'm focusing my energies on learning, and applying for jobs back at home, as we will be there shortly. Also, I'm preparing for the busy life of a Master's student, as I was accepted into the School Psychology Ed.S. program. I am very excited.

Daniel has been learning so much at his job. He's got a real talent for programming, and he utilizes this talent often in his internship. It's been fun for him to learn so many things.

We've renamed ourselves the "Newlywed Nomads" because we've moved around so much in our short time of marriage. It's quite humorous.

Anyway, I will have (hopefully) more exciting things to say, and pictures to match, soon.

Countdown to Christmas

So, it's December already. Where does all the time go? We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday down in Bakersfield. At the end of the evening, we were just about as stuffed as the turkey we ate. Our Thanksgiving evening ended with a jolt, as the living room ceiling fan sizzled and shut off the lighting and electrical sockets in the living room, dining room, and kitchen. We used plenty of candles to keep the night aglow.

Daniel was loyal and brave when he said yes to some Black Friday shopping. Fortunately for him, I'm not all that crazy. We ventured out at 11 am when the doorbuster crowds had already disappated and the only strong indicators of the sales day were the lines in Kohl's. The evening surprised us when it rained and poured for a while.

Saturday was a fun day, as myself and one of my best friends, Adria Scarborough, went out to take pictures. She's working on her photography skills, and I do think she's talented. Once she gets a really good camera and photoshop program, I think she'll be sought after for sure. Anyway, I got to play model for an hour or so. It was fun.

The day was absolutely beautiful, and the clouds cast shadows on lovely fall trees. I don't think I've ever noticed the different colors of the leaves in Bakersfield before. Maybe it's because I'm far away this year, but Bakersfield looked really beautiful this weekend.

And where are Daniel and I located now, do you ask? We currently live in Fresno, CA. We like it a lot. It's greener here than in Bakersfield, and the temple is only 15 minutes away. Soon, though, we will have to say goodbye to Northern California-- temporarily, at least. Daniel received a good internship that requires moving closer to Edwards Air Force Base. I hope that I get to travel to Tehachapi. I haven't been there in so long, and I miss it.

I'm very excited for Christmas. I'm rounding up the gifts and Christmas cards. I love this time of the season.

Merry Christmas to everyone we love! More adventures to come...

The End of Summer Sales

Daniel finished his season of selling this summer, and we took two days to enjoy the SoCal area we were in.

First, we went to Disneyland (one of my favorite places) and spent all day there. Seriously. 13 hours of walking and waiting in queue lines. Fun stuff. We saw the Electrical Parade at California Adventures, a beautiful parade that utilizes millions of tiny lights in floats and costumes. Afterwards, we ran back into Disneyland to catch the last parts of the Magical Fireworks Show. I wish we had been able to see the entire thing- the fireworks are featured above Sleeping Beauty Castle to many musical themes. The castle changes many colors in synchronization with the show, and some very favorite characters fly over the castle. It was fun. The Fantasmic show over the Rivers of America is fascinating and a beautiful show.

Some fun tips we learned from this trip we'd like to share: If you'd like a hands-on and free souvenir for you and the kids, check out the Animation Academy feature located in California Adventures. You learn how to draw a popular Disney character (we drew Mickey Mouse), and you get to keep a large sketch paper with the Disney logo and everything. It's fun!

Also, check out "It's Tough to Be a Bug" 3D show in the Bug's Life area in California Adventures. I had never been there because I had always thought it was only for kids to enjoy. It was by far Daniel's and my favorite 3d show in both parks.

- Onto further adventures: Daniel and I went to Newport Beach for a day in the sun. We got sunburned, but enjoyed the beautiful ocean and sun. It was a nice beach.

Over all, the summer was rewarding in many ways. We experienced trials and triumphs in employment that have taught us valuable lessons. We also enjoyed some new dining experiences. We ate alligator at a Brazilian BBQ. We went to a hibachi grill and ate some scrumptious, awesome sushi. Finally, we made amazing friends.
The summer is not quite done yet...

Enjoy the sun and fun!

Wrap Up of the Summer

Daniel's and my first summer together as a "mawwied" couple has been very busy. We've been working hard in Orange County, California. Daniel has spent many hours of his day knocking doors in effort to sell pest control. He's been very successful thus far. The days are long and hard, however, and he's very excited to be ending his run as a door-to-door salesman.

I've been blessed to work 40 hours a week for a summer job- thanks to a temporary employment agency. I've met some very fun people who are the best coworkers I've had in a very long time.

At the end of this week, Daniel and I will be saying sayonara to our summer home in Yorba Linda. We will relocate to Fresno, California and greet the glorious 100 degree heat. Fresno holds some very interesting opportunities for us. Daniel will continue on with his schooling in Mechanical Engineering. I am still looking for the educational direction that I can enjoy and thrive on. I'm really leaning towards Speech Pathology, but another direction has popped up in my mind...teaching? The path is wide open.

We hope that your summers have been eventful and fun-filled!