It's over...
Our first semester as managers is done! And we survived! These last few weeks have been so busy preparing for the departure of our 128 students for the winter break. This is my excuse for lack of posts... There were lots and lots of papers to retype and organize, print, staple, and pass out, then collect and file. There were lots of dusty fingers, greasy hands, and aching feet. On top of all that, we also made and hand delivered little gifts for each apartment - a loaf of bread and a bag of yummy chocolates!
Our check out schedule lasted for four days, Wednesday - Saturday, during which we were at the mercy of the tenants as they finished their tests and cleaning. When they were ready, we went to their apartment to make sure that they cleaned well enough to earn a full refund of their deposit. Even though we are so tired, we are so thrilled at the outcome. Nearly every student passed and our apartments are quite clean. There is hardly any follow-up cleaning needed! Which is a relief because we volunteered to clean up behind them...
So, one semester down, and the next is right around the corner. Now comes the time to prepare for check ins. Those I'm not as nervous about because I have done it once before. With check outs, it was all new territory. And it was up to us and the owner, who hasn't been that involved over the last few years because she hasn't had to be - she had a property manager that lived in town that took care of practically everything. Now most of those responsibilities have fallen to me, and I know practically nothing. Though it has been exciting to learn.
It is intimidating to be the manager of so many people older than I am. I feel like they might think, "who is this little girl, and why does she thing she's the boss?" During one of my clean checks I wore my "Class of '09" t-shirt. A tenant noticed and asked, "are you really class of '09?" I -slightly embarrassed- told him yes, to which he replied that he was class of '05... awkward silence. We ended up laughing it off. It's a similar situation when I chat with the girls that live here, especially when I started revealing that I was pregnant (oops... I promise to blog about that soon!) and only 21. Not that I regret the decision to start our family by any means! Sometime you just get weird looks... Oh well. Their loss, right?
Managing has been hard for me, I'm not going to lie. Every day I'm pushed outside of my comfort zone by talking with people, approaching people, calling people, etc. It's really not a job I was cut out for, but I am learning so much and doing better. Tom has been a real sweetie through it all. He is so willing to pick up where I leave slack. He's much better at talking to people and approaching situations in a calm matter - I tend to freak out. A lot. Working on it.
Really, managing is more of a lifestyle change than a job change. We can't just clock out and forget about work. We have tenants who need us to be available all the time, in case of emergency. I think that is really why it has been a challenge; I don't do well with change. But honest, I am improving. And now that we have a semester under out belts, I know a little more of what I am up against. Before too long, I'll catch up to where Tom is and be a pro at this managing business!
All in all, this job has been a blessing for the both of us. We get to spend so much time together! We talk about what we used to do when we both had school and work and only had a few hours a day together before we headed to bed. Now we get to spend nearly every waking moment together. It is so great. We're really lucky and cherish all the fun we're having. It's so great to be in love. Cheesy, I know, but oh so true!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
How NOT to Vote
*This is a lengthy post that is pretty pointless, and doesn't even have a single picture. But, I think it's pretty hilarious. Read at your own risk.*
This election, Tom and I learned a thing or two about voting. The hard way. And so, I have decided to share them with you so that you hopefully won't have to learn the same lessons the way we did.
1.) It is important to know how to read a map.
I thought I had read the precinct map a few weeks ago that was published in the paper, and I was pretty sure that Tom and I were supposed to vote at Madison Middle School. Seemed a little weird since we live quite a ways from there, but hey. It's Rexburg. They do things differently here. Wrong. Should have listened to the little voice questioning me - my husband.
2.) A Middle School is definitely different from a Junior High School.
Don't ask me. I didn't make up the rules. But if you think you are voting at the Middle School, don't drive to the Junior High. Not the same place.
We made it to the real Middle School and were comforted to see a lot more cars than at the Junior High, and a lot of younger couples. We felt more like we were in the right place. We walked in, and no line! Yes! We stepped right up there and the lady asked, "Is this your precinct?" We responded that we weren't positive, but were pretty sure. She then yelled - like yelled. loud. - clear across the room to another volunteer asking if where we lived was in this precinct. He came over and said, "Well, let's check the map." Hmmm...
3.) Bigger maps taped to the wall are a lot easier to read than small maps published in newspapers.
I was wrong. Way wrong. I obviously didn't know where we lived when I looked at the paper before. But Tom knew where we lived and he read the big map just fine. Our voting precinct was up on campus. Now that makes sense...
4.) When you take your car to a mechanic's shop, sometimes the problem disappears and causes embarrassment.
As we pulled into the Middle School parking lot, Tom and I heard a very bad noise. We eventually realized that it was coming from the passenger's side rear wheel. It was an icky grinding, clanking noise that sounded like our car was about to die. Not good. It was worse when we came out of the Middle School - still not having voted. We decided to drive a few blocks to a mechanic's shop that was practically on our way. It made the noise all the way up until about a block away. We pulled in, parked, and Tom went inside. He waited in line then told the mechanic at the counter the problem. They both came out to inspect the car. Of course he didn't see anything wrong, nor was the car making the sound as we drove circles in the parking lot. "Maybe you had a rock stuck up in there," the mechanic said. We thanked him for his trouble and started to leave. But not before our car made a few more terrible noises out of the parking lot. We drove home, arguing with ourselves if we should go back because it was obviously not fixed, when it gave one last terrible nails-on-the-chalkboard kind of noise followed by a pop of some kind. It made us pull over immediately. We worried maybe something fell off of our car, so we circled back, scanning the road. Nothing. Literally, nothing. The noise was gone just as quickly as it appeared. We still have no idea what it was.
5.) When your precinct is on a college campus, it should be obvious that students will also be included.
Well, it wasn't to us. In fact, it didn't even cross our minds. Weird. We drove up to campus and luckily found a great parking spot. But then Tom realized he was wearing shorts. That, my friends, is against the BYUI Honor Code and is not allowed on campus. So, we started the car, and drove home. While we were there, we decided that we were quite famished so we ate some dinner, then drove back. By this time, a lot of students were home and the parking was even more limited. But we found a spot and headed over to the correct building to vote in. This building, though the correct one, was devoid of any voting signs, making locating the correct place difficult. Eventually, we found the place - upstairs in the Little Theater. We climbed the last flight of stairs to find... a TON of students. What else? The line was ridiculously long. But how long could it take to vote? We figured it would go by quick...
6.) Students that live on campus all have to register to vote, hence the long lines.
Tom and I also had to register to vote because it was our first time voting since moving to Rexburg. So we joined the tremendously long line of fellow voters and waited..... and waited..... and waited....
We overheard some other students say they had been in line for over 2 hours already. 2 hours.
Tom and I finally arrived at the correct place to vote about 7:30 in the evening. We didn't get home until 9:40. And how long did it take us to vote? 2, maybe 3 minutes? (Okay, it probably took me longer because I have a need to read every word on the ballot. Every one.) Needless to say, it felt like a waste of time.
7.) BUT! Voting is not a waste of time!
We are so blessed to live in America where we have the right to vote, to have a say in what takes place in our government. And I am ever so grateful for that! Even if it is a complete hassle.
So remember, know your stuff when you vote! Don't do it like the Chambers! We know next time, we won't!
This election, Tom and I learned a thing or two about voting. The hard way. And so, I have decided to share them with you so that you hopefully won't have to learn the same lessons the way we did.
1.) It is important to know how to read a map.
I thought I had read the precinct map a few weeks ago that was published in the paper, and I was pretty sure that Tom and I were supposed to vote at Madison Middle School. Seemed a little weird since we live quite a ways from there, but hey. It's Rexburg. They do things differently here. Wrong. Should have listened to the little voice questioning me - my husband.
2.) A Middle School is definitely different from a Junior High School.
Don't ask me. I didn't make up the rules. But if you think you are voting at the Middle School, don't drive to the Junior High. Not the same place.
We made it to the real Middle School and were comforted to see a lot more cars than at the Junior High, and a lot of younger couples. We felt more like we were in the right place. We walked in, and no line! Yes! We stepped right up there and the lady asked, "Is this your precinct?" We responded that we weren't positive, but were pretty sure. She then yelled - like yelled. loud. - clear across the room to another volunteer asking if where we lived was in this precinct. He came over and said, "Well, let's check the map." Hmmm...
3.) Bigger maps taped to the wall are a lot easier to read than small maps published in newspapers.
I was wrong. Way wrong. I obviously didn't know where we lived when I looked at the paper before. But Tom knew where we lived and he read the big map just fine. Our voting precinct was up on campus. Now that makes sense...
4.) When you take your car to a mechanic's shop, sometimes the problem disappears and causes embarrassment.
As we pulled into the Middle School parking lot, Tom and I heard a very bad noise. We eventually realized that it was coming from the passenger's side rear wheel. It was an icky grinding, clanking noise that sounded like our car was about to die. Not good. It was worse when we came out of the Middle School - still not having voted. We decided to drive a few blocks to a mechanic's shop that was practically on our way. It made the noise all the way up until about a block away. We pulled in, parked, and Tom went inside. He waited in line then told the mechanic at the counter the problem. They both came out to inspect the car. Of course he didn't see anything wrong, nor was the car making the sound as we drove circles in the parking lot. "Maybe you had a rock stuck up in there," the mechanic said. We thanked him for his trouble and started to leave. But not before our car made a few more terrible noises out of the parking lot. We drove home, arguing with ourselves if we should go back because it was obviously not fixed, when it gave one last terrible nails-on-the-chalkboard kind of noise followed by a pop of some kind. It made us pull over immediately. We worried maybe something fell off of our car, so we circled back, scanning the road. Nothing. Literally, nothing. The noise was gone just as quickly as it appeared. We still have no idea what it was.
5.) When your precinct is on a college campus, it should be obvious that students will also be included.
Well, it wasn't to us. In fact, it didn't even cross our minds. Weird. We drove up to campus and luckily found a great parking spot. But then Tom realized he was wearing shorts. That, my friends, is against the BYUI Honor Code and is not allowed on campus. So, we started the car, and drove home. While we were there, we decided that we were quite famished so we ate some dinner, then drove back. By this time, a lot of students were home and the parking was even more limited. But we found a spot and headed over to the correct building to vote in. This building, though the correct one, was devoid of any voting signs, making locating the correct place difficult. Eventually, we found the place - upstairs in the Little Theater. We climbed the last flight of stairs to find... a TON of students. What else? The line was ridiculously long. But how long could it take to vote? We figured it would go by quick...
6.) Students that live on campus all have to register to vote, hence the long lines.
Tom and I also had to register to vote because it was our first time voting since moving to Rexburg. So we joined the tremendously long line of fellow voters and waited..... and waited..... and waited....
We overheard some other students say they had been in line for over 2 hours already. 2 hours.
Tom and I finally arrived at the correct place to vote about 7:30 in the evening. We didn't get home until 9:40. And how long did it take us to vote? 2, maybe 3 minutes? (Okay, it probably took me longer because I have a need to read every word on the ballot. Every one.) Needless to say, it felt like a waste of time.
7.) BUT! Voting is not a waste of time!
We are so blessed to live in America where we have the right to vote, to have a say in what takes place in our government. And I am ever so grateful for that! Even if it is a complete hassle.
So remember, know your stuff when you vote! Don't do it like the Chambers! We know next time, we won't!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Bryker
A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to practice some photography skills on this little guy...
This, my friends, is little Mr. Bryker. And I think he is sooo handsome!
He is adorable, no? Seriously, it is so easy to take good pictures when you have such a cute model!
This, my friends, is little Mr. Bryker. And I think he is sooo handsome!
He is adorable, no? Seriously, it is so easy to take good pictures when you have such a cute model!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The "Snake House"
Just over a month... not too terrible, eh?
When we moved to Rexburg, one of the first things Tom wanted to do was to find the famous "Snake House." If you aren't familiar with the story, head over to youtube and type in snake house rexburg idaho. You'll find at least 3 enlightening videos.
Here, I'll help you out. Click here. And here, for poor family #2.
Needless to say, at the mention of snakes, I wasn't super thrilled with the idea. Snakes are gross. But I was curious what the house looked like, where it was, and the like. It was an interesting story.
We've been in Rexburg for about 6 1/2 months now, and we have finally been out to see the "Snake House!" It wasn't that I refused to go for that amount of time, we just kind of forgot about it for a while. Last week Tom randomly remembered it and set out to find the address via the Internet. Find it, he did, and we went on a little drive...
I was surprised just how far out of town it was. Well, it was more like driving from South Pocatello out to Wal-Mart distance-wise for those of you back home, but for Rexburg, that's a ways out there! It was a beautiful fall drive, and I really enjoyed it. I was also surprised to see what a cute home it was! I thought to myself, "Man, I would absolutely live here if it weren't for the snakes!"
The home was a little in disrepair though. There were sheets of thick black plastic outlining the whole house, 2 layers deep. We assume it was to keep the pests out. There were also some home-made snake traps sitting out on the lawn. We drove up the driveway a little to get a bit closer to home for a better view. A very old RV was parked in the back. We didn't think too much of it. We drove around to the front of the house - the driveway looped in front - to get a better look at the snake traps and the black plastic walls. We were curious. I spotted some doggy toys out on the side lawn and thought, "They sure left in a hurry. Why not pick up the dog toys?" We got out of the car, I with my phone to snap a few pictures in case we saw any snakes. As we got closer to the house, we both heard a noise that startled us. Tom and I looked up into the front window to see a little pooch barking up a storm at us, the intruders! Someone lived there?!?! We looked at each other and without a word, RAN to our car, JUMPED inside, and Tom SPED off down the road. We didn't even look back!
Who knew someone still lived there? Last I heard was that the last owners declared bankruptcy and left the home, which was now Bank owned. I guess that doesn't mean that someone can't live there... Who would have thought though?? Who would want to live there?? Not me. Not until ALL the snakes were gone, with a promise NEVER to come back. Only then would I live there, even if it is a cute house.
So, word to the wise. If you're in Rexburg to visit the "Snake House," someone lives there. So a quick drive by will have to do. Learn from our mistakes.
We sure giggled on the way home though.
When we moved to Rexburg, one of the first things Tom wanted to do was to find the famous "Snake House." If you aren't familiar with the story, head over to youtube and type in snake house rexburg idaho. You'll find at least 3 enlightening videos.
Here, I'll help you out. Click here. And here, for poor family #2.
Needless to say, at the mention of snakes, I wasn't super thrilled with the idea. Snakes are gross. But I was curious what the house looked like, where it was, and the like. It was an interesting story.
We've been in Rexburg for about 6 1/2 months now, and we have finally been out to see the "Snake House!" It wasn't that I refused to go for that amount of time, we just kind of forgot about it for a while. Last week Tom randomly remembered it and set out to find the address via the Internet. Find it, he did, and we went on a little drive...
I was surprised just how far out of town it was. Well, it was more like driving from South Pocatello out to Wal-Mart distance-wise for those of you back home, but for Rexburg, that's a ways out there! It was a beautiful fall drive, and I really enjoyed it. I was also surprised to see what a cute home it was! I thought to myself, "Man, I would absolutely live here if it weren't for the snakes!"
The home was a little in disrepair though. There were sheets of thick black plastic outlining the whole house, 2 layers deep. We assume it was to keep the pests out. There were also some home-made snake traps sitting out on the lawn. We drove up the driveway a little to get a bit closer to home for a better view. A very old RV was parked in the back. We didn't think too much of it. We drove around to the front of the house - the driveway looped in front - to get a better look at the snake traps and the black plastic walls. We were curious. I spotted some doggy toys out on the side lawn and thought, "They sure left in a hurry. Why not pick up the dog toys?" We got out of the car, I with my phone to snap a few pictures in case we saw any snakes. As we got closer to the house, we both heard a noise that startled us. Tom and I looked up into the front window to see a little pooch barking up a storm at us, the intruders! Someone lived there?!?! We looked at each other and without a word, RAN to our car, JUMPED inside, and Tom SPED off down the road. We didn't even look back!
Who knew someone still lived there? Last I heard was that the last owners declared bankruptcy and left the home, which was now Bank owned. I guess that doesn't mean that someone can't live there... Who would have thought though?? Who would want to live there?? Not me. Not until ALL the snakes were gone, with a promise NEVER to come back. Only then would I live there, even if it is a cute house.
So, word to the wise. If you're in Rexburg to visit the "Snake House," someone lives there. So a quick drive by will have to do. Learn from our mistakes.
We sure giggled on the way home though.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Seriously?
July. Really? July was the last time I blogged? Pathetic.
I am truly a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad" blogger. (Remember that book?)
And to top it all off, I'm a hypocrite. I am always reading other blogs, and when I finally get all caught up with nothing else to read, I think, "Geez, why won't this person blog already? It's been forever!" Huh.
So, with that said, there is no where else to go but UP! Right? I can improve! Right? I will improve! right??? I surely hope so.
Life. It is a many splendid thing. Here is what is happening up here in "the Burg," as my father calls it.
Nothing. Hence why I haven't blogged. Yet, EVERYTHING! Hence why I haven't blogged. Nothing too exciting has been happening, but we have been so busy! So I'll start at the beginning, a very good place to start.
- July -
My little sister got married! Crazy, but it truly happened. And it was truly beautiful. And I truly forgot my camera. Sheesh. They are such a gorgeous and happy couple. I'm so glad Tom and I set them up. :)
My darling sister-in-law taught Tom and I how to make jam. Our first attempt was freezer jam. Mmmmm, strawberry... Some of it didn't set up quite right, so we used it for syrup on waffles. I wasn't complaining a bit! We also learned how to make homemade yogurt. Who knew it was so easy? It is also very revealing as to how much sugar and other sweeteners actually go into the store bought stuff. It's bitter! But add some jam, and it is delightful.
- August -
We went to Lagoon! More than once actually. The first time was for Tom's work. He drove a bus of Junior High Students.... Yay. On the plus side, it was a lovely day...
The skies eventually cleared up and we had some fun. And Tom made a new friend.
And then, a few weeks later, we went with Tom's family. It was a lot of fun to be with them. I ended up getting so sick though. I told Tom I couldn't ride that ride, but he talked me into it somehow. Bad news. You can tell I wasn't feeling well by the picture we took on the SkyRide.
Do we not look like we're 10 or something?
WE MOVED!
 |
| Outside our old place. Can you tell we had been moving all day? I can. |
Again, you ask? Yes, again. And thank goodness.
The reason being, we got new jobs! Tom and I are now the Onsite Managers of Brighton Apartments and Townhomes. It's been great so far. We love our new place, our new boss, the new students, etc. Life is pretty good. It's super stressful since we're new and still trying to figure things out, but it has been such a good change for us. This also means I am no longer working at the Marriott. I loved the people I worked with, and I miss them already, but I am so thankful to not work until 11:00pm and never again on Sunday! Hooray! Though working at the nicest hotel in Rexburg had it's perks...
Terrible quality, but yes, that is Jon Schmidt's name on the arrival list. Like, THE Jon Schmidt. The piano player. I will miss being in the loop with the famous people.
P.S. This new job was the very exciting news from my last post that MANY people mistook for a pregnancy announcement. Sorry. Not as exciting for you as a baby would have been, I know.
- September -
Oops... How did that get on here....
Saturday, July 14, 2012
What do you do in the Summertime?
Summer is finally here, and you know it because of the hot, HOT weather. We're loving it!
We've been busy little bees here in Rexburg, so excuse my lack of blogging. I'll offer you a little recap on our summer events so far.
To start the summer off, we went to HAWAII! It was so much fun that it deserves it's own dedicated post. That, and there are way too many pictures. But we surely had fun and had a hard time coming back!
Tom and I both participated in our first ever 5K run. Thanks to his sister Marie for the heads up, we signed up and started training, which for me consisted of 3 morning runs. Oops. But we had a lot of fun and plan on improving and doing more races in the future!
A few weekends ago, Rexburg had an air show, free to the public. They have a really neat Flight Museum here at the airport and flew many planes from that exhibit, as well as stunt planes that were hired out. Tom and I joined his Grandma & Grandpa Christensen for a morning of planes, and lots of them. We really enjoyed the opportunity to chat with his Grandpa about the planes. He knows so much! He could tell us the name, year, make, specialties, etc. of nearly every plane that flew that day. He had a lot of fun reminiscing about the days when he owned a plane. We really enjoyed his stories. And the planes of course!
One day while I was at work, Tom went exploring and happened upon Rexburg's Nature Park. We're not sure the exact name of it, but it is really pretty and out away from things. Except the airport, it's right next to the runway, but that isn't much of a problem in a little town like Rexburg. On my next day off, he took me too and we explored. There were ducks, flowers, bridges, and even a snake! We had fun exploring with Tom's parents' dog Kannoli.
This (^) picture cracked me up. Tom saw two geese on top of this hill sitting on a nest. His curiosity was perked and he tried to get close enough to see if there were really eggs in the nest. Little did he know that Kanolli was wandering around behind that hill, slowly sniffing her way to the top.... HONK HONK!! The geese completely freaked out when Kanolli came up over the hill. They were both so focused on Tom that they didn't see her at all until she was too close for their comfort. Tom let out a squeal and ran for his life. The geese were up on their little webbed feet honking and hissing, guarding whatever was in their nest. Good mommies. Haha
The 4th of July came around and I was just itching to make a decoration or 2. I had Tom take me to Porters, the local craft store, so I could get my supplies. He was such a good sport the whole time. I think we wandered around for over a good hour. Poor kid. At least he finds ways to entertain himself...
But I finally made the right decisions and came home to create my conjured up masterpieces. They aren't perfect and might need some tweaking in the near future, but I was pleased enough to display them in our home.
We didn't do anything special for the holiday. I worked in the morning from 7a-3p, but got paid double time so I didn't complain too much. Afterwards we went to eat with Tom's parents and then just hung around at home. I ended up falling asleep early after my long day at work. (Something about the 4th sure made people grumpy. It was weird.) So instead of watching any fireworks, we listened to them through our open windows. Terribly exciting, right?
I have been working a lot at the hotel, and it has been exhausting. It's difficult being there until 11:00 at night and standing the whole time. I complain a lot to my husband about various things. But, it's good money though, right? The other night, it was so busy and I ran up and down the 4 flights of stairs enough times that I ripped a hole in my shoe... My poor little toe is exposed to the world. Looks like I need some new ones.
We've been very blessed over the past 3 months since moving to Rexburg. We really like the atmosphere of the town and are enjoying our time here. I will admit that it hasn't been all good and dandy. Both of our jobs are stressful and not quite what we want, and our living space is the same (minus the stressful). But, we have received some very, very good news that will change things dramatically for us over the next little while.
And we're so excited!!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Spelunking
Tom and I visited Pocatello a few weeks ago. While there, we had quite an adventure. Who knew you can go spelunking in good ol' Poky? I sure didn't. I was a little hesitant to go. Caves are like a love-hate kind of a deal for me. I really like them and I really don't. They are so interesting and so terrifying, all at the same time! But we all had fun anyway.
The trek up to the entrances of the caves was slightly treacherous. In fact, we scaled the side of the mountain. Literally.
There was recently a fire up in the hills where we were, so the scenery was contrasting and beautiful. It was so dry, so green, so black... It was neat.
The entrances were deceiving. We had to crawl through tiny openings, but inside there was enough room to walk upright - most of the time.
The trek up to the entrances of the caves was slightly treacherous. In fact, we scaled the side of the mountain. Literally.
There was recently a fire up in the hills where we were, so the scenery was contrasting and beautiful. It was so dry, so green, so black... It was neat.
 |
| There were kind of a lot of animal bones just around. Gross. And cool too. |
The entrances were deceiving. We had to crawl through tiny openings, but inside there was enough room to walk upright - most of the time.
Hooray for spelunking! Next on our cave list, Minnetonka.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
I'm A Big Girl Now
Look what Tom found in our mailbox...
Of course he delivered it to me giggling all the way. I got so excited! "What could be in the mail that would make my husband so giddy??"
Oh joy.
Of course he delivered it to me giggling all the way. I got so excited! "What could be in the mail that would make my husband so giddy??"
Oh joy.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Rexburgians
I can't believe how fast time flies. It has been a month since we moved to Rexburg.
Rexburg is treating us well, and we are enjoying ourselves.
Our apartment is humble, but just great for a newly married couple. We were really spoiled in Pocatello, and our home now is much more like what you would expect newly weds to live in as they start off. We live in the basement of an old house and "manage" the girls who live upstairs. There are 4 of them this semester, but usually there are 6. They are all very friendly and fun gals. We have to do clean checks once a week and enjoy what little time we have to get to know them. We also enjoy watching movies with them as the dialogue comes directly through the vents and into our bedroom.
I was hired as a "Guest Service Representative" (aka Front Desk) for the Springhill Suites Marriott in town. It is a great place to work and everyone there is so friendly. Marriott is a good company and does well to treat their employees well. I've had a hard time adjusting to the 3p-11p shift that I often am scheduled to work because my usual bedtime is an hour or so before I get off. Slowly, but surely, I will get used to it. My only complaint is that the Front Desk is a 24 hr, 7 days a week kind of job, so I end up working quite a few Sundays. Not what I like. But, I am the new kid on the block, so I pretty much expected it. With time, I'm hoping I can get out of working them. The hotel is much smaller than the Clarion in Pocatello, so even on "busy" nights, I find myself without things to do and really bored... I end up cleaning a lot: the lobby, the front desk, the closet, and the back office, just to name a few. But I'm not complaining. I would rather be bored than stressed out of my mind because everything is going wrong! The best part about this job is I can receive an Associate Rate at ANY Marriott worldwide, so long as it is available. I also have access to a Friends and Family Rate. *wink wink*
Tom is working for the Salt Lake Express. They mostly use him for charters, so he actually has a lot of downtime. With charters, he is paid by the day, so in a weekend, he can make what he would working on regular routes. He really enjoys the charters and prefers them over the scheduled routes. Charters are fun for me too because if the group gives the okay, I can come along! Sometimes they are more busy than others, but they always feel like a mini vacation. It's a pretty good gig. So far he has been to Boise a few times, Yellowstone, Salt Lake, Idaho Falls, Grace, and Downey, to name a few.
Tom is officially a BYU-I Student. The proof is in the cards.
Our I-cards. This is how we can get into the I-center and the gym, among other things. Tom was very eager to get his I-card, so he obtained special permission to take an online class this semester, although he technically isn't supposed to start school until the Fall. For now he only has the one online class, Science Foundations, but he will start up full time in September.
Between our jobs and traveling on weekends -baby blessings, farewells- we haven't had a chance to experience our new ward yet. It is very sad, but we both have this coming Sunday off and will finally be able to attend. We just hope the ward doesn't think we're inactive!
Probably our most exciting news is our new purchase....
Hooray for a new car! We have been looking for a while with not much luck, until we stumbled upon this beauty parked in front of the Broulim's grocery store here in town. We called and though the guy had had a lot of interest, we were the first to say, "We'll take it!" As soon as we offered, he said he had calls flooding in of people offering to buy the car. We were lucky that we were dealing with a honorable man and he stuck to his word to sell it to us. We sure do love it!
We miss Pocatello often, but we really are enjoying ourselves here. We really like the atmosphere of Rexburg. It is a lot of fun to walk to a park and see so many people there enjoying the weather, a game of Ultimate Frisbee, or spending time with one another. We often walk to Porter Park and meet Mom, Dad, Sam, and Kanolli. We sure enjoy living close to them and getting to see them as often as we do! It's also really neat to be so close to a temple. We are just down the hill and could easily walk to it. We're very excited to make that a regular part of our routine!
3 cheers for 3 years in Rexburg! (give or take.)
Rexburg is treating us well, and we are enjoying ourselves.
Our apartment is humble, but just great for a newly married couple. We were really spoiled in Pocatello, and our home now is much more like what you would expect newly weds to live in as they start off. We live in the basement of an old house and "manage" the girls who live upstairs. There are 4 of them this semester, but usually there are 6. They are all very friendly and fun gals. We have to do clean checks once a week and enjoy what little time we have to get to know them. We also enjoy watching movies with them as the dialogue comes directly through the vents and into our bedroom.
I was hired as a "Guest Service Representative" (aka Front Desk) for the Springhill Suites Marriott in town. It is a great place to work and everyone there is so friendly. Marriott is a good company and does well to treat their employees well. I've had a hard time adjusting to the 3p-11p shift that I often am scheduled to work because my usual bedtime is an hour or so before I get off. Slowly, but surely, I will get used to it. My only complaint is that the Front Desk is a 24 hr, 7 days a week kind of job, so I end up working quite a few Sundays. Not what I like. But, I am the new kid on the block, so I pretty much expected it. With time, I'm hoping I can get out of working them. The hotel is much smaller than the Clarion in Pocatello, so even on "busy" nights, I find myself without things to do and really bored... I end up cleaning a lot: the lobby, the front desk, the closet, and the back office, just to name a few. But I'm not complaining. I would rather be bored than stressed out of my mind because everything is going wrong! The best part about this job is I can receive an Associate Rate at ANY Marriott worldwide, so long as it is available. I also have access to a Friends and Family Rate. *wink wink*
Tom is working for the Salt Lake Express. They mostly use him for charters, so he actually has a lot of downtime. With charters, he is paid by the day, so in a weekend, he can make what he would working on regular routes. He really enjoys the charters and prefers them over the scheduled routes. Charters are fun for me too because if the group gives the okay, I can come along! Sometimes they are more busy than others, but they always feel like a mini vacation. It's a pretty good gig. So far he has been to Boise a few times, Yellowstone, Salt Lake, Idaho Falls, Grace, and Downey, to name a few.
Tom is officially a BYU-I Student. The proof is in the cards.
Our I-cards. This is how we can get into the I-center and the gym, among other things. Tom was very eager to get his I-card, so he obtained special permission to take an online class this semester, although he technically isn't supposed to start school until the Fall. For now he only has the one online class, Science Foundations, but he will start up full time in September.
Between our jobs and traveling on weekends -baby blessings, farewells- we haven't had a chance to experience our new ward yet. It is very sad, but we both have this coming Sunday off and will finally be able to attend. We just hope the ward doesn't think we're inactive!
Probably our most exciting news is our new purchase....
Hooray for a new car! We have been looking for a while with not much luck, until we stumbled upon this beauty parked in front of the Broulim's grocery store here in town. We called and though the guy had had a lot of interest, we were the first to say, "We'll take it!" As soon as we offered, he said he had calls flooding in of people offering to buy the car. We were lucky that we were dealing with a honorable man and he stuck to his word to sell it to us. We sure do love it!
We miss Pocatello often, but we really are enjoying ourselves here. We really like the atmosphere of Rexburg. It is a lot of fun to walk to a park and see so many people there enjoying the weather, a game of Ultimate Frisbee, or spending time with one another. We often walk to Porter Park and meet Mom, Dad, Sam, and Kanolli. We sure enjoy living close to them and getting to see them as often as we do! It's also really neat to be so close to a temple. We are just down the hill and could easily walk to it. We're very excited to make that a regular part of our routine!
3 cheers for 3 years in Rexburg! (give or take.)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
"It's Hard to Say Goodbye and Let Go"
Well, we did it.
We packed ourselves up and moved up to Rexburg to begin our new adventure. Let me tell you, it wasn't an easy process. I haven't really moved before, so it was a new experience for me. We packed and cleaned and packed and cleaned for a few days. We were covered in black from newspaper after carefully wrapping our fragile items, our fingers were raw from the deep scrubbing and the harsh chemicals. But I can't imagine what a terror it would have been if we didn't have the help of our wonderful friends and family! Thank you all so much. It was so appreciated!
We will sure miss our first home. We made a lot of great memories and friends.
We were sad to leave, but we are also very exctied to make new memories and new friends at our new home! We promise to keep you posted.
We packed ourselves up and moved up to Rexburg to begin our new adventure. Let me tell you, it wasn't an easy process. I haven't really moved before, so it was a new experience for me. We packed and cleaned and packed and cleaned for a few days. We were covered in black from newspaper after carefully wrapping our fragile items, our fingers were raw from the deep scrubbing and the harsh chemicals. But I can't imagine what a terror it would have been if we didn't have the help of our wonderful friends and family! Thank you all so much. It was so appreciated!
We will sure miss our first home. We made a lot of great memories and friends.
We were sad to leave, but we are also very exctied to make new memories and new friends at our new home! We promise to keep you posted.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Breaking News!!
**Please Stay Tuned for an Important Announcement**
We're moving.
Yep. It's the truth.
Tom has officially been accepted to BUY-I for the Fall/Winter track. Since his dad is now teaching there, Tom gets something like 72 FREE credits. That equals out to just over 2 years worth I believe. How neat is that? And it is because of that, we have decided to move ourselves up to Rexburg to take advantage of this opportunity.
Tom already has a job lined up with the Salt Lake Express. In fact, he's been hired and has already done a few jobs. He is also excited to start a little lawn mowing business when he gets there. Chambers Lawn Care, where you'll get "mow" for your money!
We have an apartment set up as well. It will be a basement apartment that has, how you say "lots of charm," and we're going to love it. We'll be the managers for another apartment (the upstairs) that houses 6 girls. The couple that is there right now will be moving out on April 6th. The landlord wants to take a weekend to spruce things up a bit, and we'll be moving in on the 10th.
I have never moved anywhere besides from my parents house to the apartment that I have lived in for just over a year. Moving quite frankly freaks me out. But I'm excited! It will be a new adventure for Tom and I, and will give us a great opportunity to grow closer as we face new challenges.
So stay tuned as we get ready for this new chapter in our Book of Life: The Chambers Family.
We're moving.
Yep. It's the truth.
Tom has officially been accepted to BUY-I for the Fall/Winter track. Since his dad is now teaching there, Tom gets something like 72 FREE credits. That equals out to just over 2 years worth I believe. How neat is that? And it is because of that, we have decided to move ourselves up to Rexburg to take advantage of this opportunity.
Tom already has a job lined up with the Salt Lake Express. In fact, he's been hired and has already done a few jobs. He is also excited to start a little lawn mowing business when he gets there. Chambers Lawn Care, where you'll get "mow" for your money!
We have an apartment set up as well. It will be a basement apartment that has, how you say "lots of charm," and we're going to love it. We'll be the managers for another apartment (the upstairs) that houses 6 girls. The couple that is there right now will be moving out on April 6th. The landlord wants to take a weekend to spruce things up a bit, and we'll be moving in on the 10th.
I have never moved anywhere besides from my parents house to the apartment that I have lived in for just over a year. Moving quite frankly freaks me out. But I'm excited! It will be a new adventure for Tom and I, and will give us a great opportunity to grow closer as we face new challenges.
So stay tuned as we get ready for this new chapter in our Book of Life: The Chambers Family.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
With Love...
February is the month of love, especially at the Chambers home. Well, every month is for newly weds, right? But February is special.
The obvious reason #1 is Valentine's Day. Tom is my one and only Valentine. Ever. Precious, huh? I think so. He's the best Valentine.
I wanted to do lots of nifty crafties to decorate, but I only got to a few. I found a great template online for paper flowers and made a few of those. I never got around to making exactly what I had envisioned for them, but these are my practice ones.
Next year I want to do more of the newspaper and maybe stain them a reddish color. Wouldn't that be pretty? We'll see what happens.
My next projects were my Love and Kisses blocks. My mom and I went and roamed the craft store until we found them. She only attempted the love one though. This picture is before they are completely finished. And, I'll admit, I still don't have them completely finished. It's a work in progress.
The #2 reason for the special month of love is (and it is not number 2 in importance, just on this particular list) OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY! I can hardly believe that Tom and I have been married for over a year now. It's amazing.
And Tom sure did spoil me...
He gave me a Kindle Fire and along with it, he wrote a little diddy about how he wants to forever Kindle the Fire of our love. Mushy stuff. But I love it!
The obvious reason #1 is Valentine's Day. Tom is my one and only Valentine. Ever. Precious, huh? I think so. He's the best Valentine.
I wanted to do lots of nifty crafties to decorate, but I only got to a few. I found a great template online for paper flowers and made a few of those. I never got around to making exactly what I had envisioned for them, but these are my practice ones.
Next year I want to do more of the newspaper and maybe stain them a reddish color. Wouldn't that be pretty? We'll see what happens.
My next projects were my Love and Kisses blocks. My mom and I went and roamed the craft store until we found them. She only attempted the love one though. This picture is before they are completely finished. And, I'll admit, I still don't have them completely finished. It's a work in progress.
The #2 reason for the special month of love is (and it is not number 2 in importance, just on this particular list) OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY! I can hardly believe that Tom and I have been married for over a year now. It's amazing.
And Tom sure did spoil me...
He gave me a Kindle Fire and along with it, he wrote a little diddy about how he wants to forever Kindle the Fire of our love. Mushy stuff. But I love it!
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