Skiing

Hey Y'all!

So Andy and I have loved all the time we're getting to spend together now that he has normal hours and no need to study!

Last Thursday, Andy went down hill skiing for his first time and I think did pretty well. I've been skiing before a long time ago, but passed. Heights are getting to me more and more as I get older- hehe. He had a lot of fun though. I think we might try to go later on in our time here.

As you can see, here are some of my crafty projects. I made reusable coffee sleeves! Mine is the green one and then I made my mom the red and black and her friend Sandy the yellow one! I love them! And we're saving the environment one coffee sleeve at a time!!!! I'm also knitting a baby blanket and I plan on making baby head bands and other cutesy stuff!

Anyways back to stuff me and Andy do together... We went cross-country skiing on Saturday! First time ever for both of us! We really liked this and I think we're planning on going again and we're going to try to bring Buckley with us. Anyways we went to this place to cross country ski and it was going along a river so it was really pretty. Great work out without feeling like you're working out! After we were done skiing we got to soak in hot springs! Really cool. Apparently Idaho has the most natural hot springs in all of the US. That's just what I hear at least. Anyways that was a great day and very cool.

Yesterday (or Sunday) we watched the highly talked about Bears vs. Packers game! Whoo go Packers! (Sorry Mom) And the Steelers! Now we have to find good people with a large screen tv! Haha. Yeah so we stayed in yesterday to watch the games and eat PIZZA! Yes!

I have begun our training for our half marathon (Andy's knee still isn't healed completely). I am quite proud of myself if I do say so myself. I ran 4 miles without stopping on Sunday (haven't run that much since our 10k in October).

Andy's clinical took an unexpected turn this past week also. His CI (clinical instructor) is quitting and going to a different hospital (due to new changes in the hospital). So in about a week Andy will have a new CI. So unfortunate for such a short clinical to begin with, but good for the guy who wasn't happy with how things ended up in the hospital.

So I've been thinking a lot about working and teaching and I REALLY want to teach and it's been tearing me up that I haven't seen any postings and just that I never got a long term or full time position... So if you could just pray for that for this coming year, I'd appreciate it.

3 weeks down...5 weeks to go!

What's Been Going On

So it's been about a week and a half since my last post, here's what's been up in our lives...

Andy is still continuing to enjoy his clinical experience. The hospital is going through some changes, so all of the wound care he was supposed to be doing isn't really happening, but I think he's okay with that. Some days can be slow for him, but he is being added more responsibilities everyday.

I went to the substitute orientation meeting last week and we both decided it probably wouldn't be a good investment for me. I would have to get a phone with a local area code and I would have to get ANOTHER stupid background check (states really need to get together with their checks, because it's a ton of money to be flying about). Also I asked how busy it is for subs now and it doesn't really get busy until the end of February. So I have decided to fill my days with reading, crafts, and preparing for the job hiring season. And it's only 6 more weeks now.

Yeah so I have decided to fulfill my desire to be artsy so I've been making things and teaching myself how to do different things... I will show my creations on a later date, as some of my crafts have not gotten to the people that should be receiving them. Any way so I've been sewing, and cutting, and crocheting, knitting, and just creating. It's pretty fun and rewarding.

I have new hair. As does Andy. We both got our hair cuts and I got a new color and I'm really enjoying it again. (I had it this color my freshman year of collage and my junior year of H.S.)

This past weekend we had a great time watching the football games and we had GAME OLYMPICS! We decided to play the 5 games we have and have a little competition. I'm happy to announce that I CRUSHED Andy. Thank you! I am now a gold medalist!

We also began our training for our half marathon in April- well Andy's just been lifting because of his knee... We are also going to start doing some outside winter sports to fulfill our experience in Idaho. This Thursday we are going skiing and this weekend we're going cross country skiing and visiting some hot springs, which should be neat.

It has been nice now that Andy has a more regular schedule and doesn't need to study all the time. We are able to eat dinner together and just spend a lot of time together. It really has been great to have him home more. One of our dinners we cooked MOOSE burgers! The guy whose house we're living in gave us some moose meat. They were really good, a lot better than hamburgers.

The weather here has been quite interesting. It was cold the past two weeks and have had consistent snow on the ground, but this weekend it got into the forties and so all the snow is gone and it feels like spring. Today when I went out I didn't even wear a jacket. But I'm not complaining.

Here's a picture for Mama Schu- he still loves his bed!

Idaho- Idawho?

So I will tell you what's been up in the form of pictures and I guess some narrating...

We still have Buck, of course. He loves his mommy who likes to put him in "cute" situations. But sometimes he puts himself in cute positions without my help.

Oh and Andy and I taught him to sit in the window like a cat. He loves the view.

Andy finished his classes and passed all of them! So the middle of Decemeber we started to have some fun. We had Augie and Naomi visit. We had a cold weekend of snow and skating! Then Andy and I began to pack up for the holidays and Idaho... To make things brighter I dressed up Buck in one of my swimsuit tops. =) (No he's not gay) Then so began our holiday travels... We headed to Charleston to spend a few days with Andy's family and had an early Christmas. We then went and spent Christmas with my family and spent a few extra days with them. It was a great time spent with tons of family, games, and I got to see Megan who has been in Mexico since the summer (sad to say I fell asleep while hanging out with her, so Andy got to spend some time with her!). We then left Schaumburg and headed to our first stop, Omaha, Nebraska. We spent the night with a girl and her family from our community group. Then onto Fort Collins, Colorado. We didn't do too much, New Year's Eve day we went to Estes Park and into Rocky Mt State Park. And only saw one buck (not too exciting especially since we have a Buck at home...)
Then New Year's day we started our last driving expedition to Pocatello... However we encountered SUPER strong winds that created a white out from the snow that fell the day before and SUPER icy conditions. We had a spin out while I was driving and incredibly (thanks to my Chicago driving) I managed to keep out car straight as we slid for I don't know how long. REALLY scary especially since there was a semi and two cars behind us. So we drove a while longer after that and it got dark and the ice was hard to see and all over so we ended up at a dinky Hideaway Motel (yes). Buckley is modeling our wonderful blue jean bed spread.Andy is modeling our wall decor.Buckley peeking out with his lion from under our lovely bed and modeling our 60's carpet!The next day after getting some rest we were able to conquer the ice in day light, once we got out of Wyoming and into Idaho the roads were 100% better. Buckley and I road along while Andy drove. Buck just goofed off the entire time. In the picture above he was being a gangsta!

We got into Pocatello at about one and got settled into our house. We are "living" with a 44 year old guy who doesn't actually live there at all, just has his hunting gear in one of the bedrooms. So I'll give you a little tour...The living room.Buck is modeling the den.Complete with our "wood stove" to heat our house... Too much for a Schaumburg girl...Kitchen, behind the door is our washer and dryer.Bathroom.And bedroom (find Buckley...)

The best part of our house is the wall decor...

Antlers and a picture of a deer/caribou/elk?

Oh the head of a caribou!
And the fish!

Well Andy had his first day of clinicals today, he is in doing wound care at Portneuf Hospital. I'm trying to get set up to substitute teach, so hopefully that works out. Sorry for all my talk about Buckley (as you can see he's my best friend, next to Andy).

Thanks for reading!