my new favorite verb

"I totally Jimmered my math test"--or so someone posted on facebook. I thought it was awesome. It's not even just a BYU thing either; an espn.com article said that "Jimmer-mania" is sweeping the entire nation. You just can't stop him. Jimmer Fredette is a prodigy. You just wait, world, because he is the next Steve Nash. Enough said on that.

So, Hi. It's me again. Been out for a while on vacation/transitioning to my new life.

I started my new "grown-up" job finally. I'm a research nurse for J. Lewis Research, Inc. My official title is a "Clinical Research Coordinator," and I work out of a clinic in Salt Lake City. Here's my job in a nutshell: Pharmaceutical companies are working on making new medications all the time, but they have to go through lots of testing before they can sell them. In the final stages of testing, the drugs have to be tested on people. That's my job. I recruit and put qualifying candidates on a new drug study, then I document how they are reacting to it. Don't worry; by this phase, the drugs are relatively safe, and nobody ever dies or anything. The patients get paid for their time too, so they are usually excited about it. I didn't have high expectations about this job to begin with, but I actually like it a lot. It's less stressful than working in a hospital, and the people I work with are really nice. I just have to get used to working full-time again. I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't had a full-time job since the summer of 2007, unless you count being an EFY counselor, which I don't. The commute is kinda annoying too. With traffic, it usually takes about 45 minutes to get home. I work 10-hour shifts, so I really don't have time to do anything on the days I work. But having 3 days off every week is worth it. I'm also finding that I manage my time much better when I'm busy. Like I went to the gym four times last week!

That's pretty much my life right now. Except I have to share that yesterday I shut my head in a car door. Ask me how that happened. I'm still not sure. Now I have a splitting headache and a hematoma-like lump behind my ear. That car door "Jimmered" me. Sometimes I wonder if I should be monitoring other people's health if I can't even take care of myself.

I'm so grateful...

I feel like Buddy the Elf sometimes (you know, because singing really IS my favorite, and I love Toll House cookie dough, and don't even get me started on snuggling). Anyway, there are some days when life is really great, and I just feel like smiling, or yelling out "I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!" Today is one of those days. Why? Well let me tell you:

1. I spent like four hours with my old roommate/favorite person ever, Lauren today. She got home from her mission just before Christmas, and we had a BLAST. Well, how can you not have a good time when you have the all-you-can-eat french toast from Kneaders, right? Lar and I have lived under the same roof since freshman year, and you could say we are "kindred spirits." Seriously love her.

2. My husband is wonderful. When I start telling other people about him (Lar, in this case) I re-realize exactly how good I have it. Not every wife can say, "Yeah, my husband got a perfect math score on the GRE," or "My husband took me shopping this weekend," or "My husband volunteered to watch Eclipse with me if I couldn't find a friend to go with." (I didn't make him, btw). He's just really great. I tell him all the time that he settled when he married me.

3. I'm headed to the airport in about an hour. Finally going home for the holidays! We both worked on Christmas, so now we finally can go to California to see our families. I love family. This trip I am looking forward to: seeing my niece Aidyn for the first time, getting my hair cut, watching True Grit with my dad (he used to force me to watch the John Wayne version), going to Disneyland with Corrie, and just having fun with Caleb. So great.

Wow, that got me in such a good mood that I might just endure the TSA scanners...

Feliz Vida!

I am currently loving life. Christmas/New Year's was really enjoyable for me, despite the unconventional nature of my celebratory style. For example, Caleb and I didn't get a Christmas tree this year. Week after week in December, the missing Tannenbaum continued to eat at me until I finally found a makeshift solution to this common holiday tradition: I made one out of flannel.

Remember those stockings I made? Well, I had some extra fabric, and this was the best I could do. Another odd thing about our tree is that all of the presents underneath it aren't ours. We bought a new bed for Christmas, so these are all the presents that would eventually go to other people. It just looked so bare under the tree that I had to borrow them. I figure we will look back on this picture with fondness someday. During the time I felt a little pathetic.

Another GREAT thing about this Christmas: Corrie Beth came to visit unexpectedly. She spent a few days with me in Springville, and we had a blast.

We made a snowman...

And played with Caleb (right after we took this picture Corrie and I attacked Caleb with a snowball.)

And we snuggled. That was my favorite. It was nice to have a roommate while Caleb was working the night shift.

Caleb had to work on Christmas Eve, so I sort of invited myself over to my aunt and uncle's house in Lehi. There is nothing like watching little kids open presents on Christmas morning. Although it does remind me of Caleb when he catches a big fish. :)

Spencer and McKay. Not exactly sure what that hand signal is.

Sammi and her new robe. I learned that those slippers are called "Oobies." Very hot right now amongst the tween population.

Sarah loving breakfast. I have finally found someone to rival my sister Rylee and her ketchup obsession.

Cute cousin Mariah. Sorry the picture is sideways.

As I said before, Caleb and I decided not to get each other presents this year because we bought our bed. So I was a little confused when he gave me a vaccuum. He said he could break the rule because he made it. I felt dumb for not getting him something. But anyway, on Dec. 27th we moved into our new apartment, which we adore. I've spent the last week moving in/trying to make everything fit--and that is hard to do in a 400 square foot apartment. It's rather hobbit-hole-esque, but couldn't be more perfect for our current needs. Here are some pics:

The Kitchen Counter. You will understand later why I chose a red theme.

That food rack was the best purchase of our married life. It fits all of our food, plus our microwave and toaster. Love it.

As I said, RED. At first it drove me crazy, but now I don't mind it so much. The red in the kitchen kinda ties it together with the rest of the room.

We love our ward, we love how beautiful Alpine is, and we really like being so close to the mountains. This was an excellent choice for us. We will be here at least until August, when Caleb hopefully goes to grad school. His applications are in, and we should hear back by March. In the meantime, he is still working in Lehi as an engineer, and I am working in Salt Lake City as a research nurse. Life is good!