Yes, we are alive.

Yes, we are alive. 

The Hortons. Two years later.

It has been TWO YEARS since I last blogged. I have to chuckle at myself, because in all honesty I am not surprised. That sounds exactly like me.

If you guys haven't listened to Waitin' On the Day on Paradise Valley by John Mayer, please do.

Right, update!!

Jeff is at Idaho State, about to start his first of 3 remaining semesters of his undergrad in Medical Lab Science. He is planning to take the MCAT in January of 2015, and hopes to apply to medical school later that year. He is working at EIRMC as a phlebotomist and enjoys it! They love him there. Who wouldn't?! He is working hard and doing well in school. He is ze best. I think I'll keep him!!

I've been attending Austin Kade Academy since September of 2012. I started the cosmetology in the night school program as I was working full time during the day, but I recently switched to day school. I quit my job (it was sucking my soul away) as a birthday present to myself and decided to graduate early. I'm hoping to be done by the end of February! I've only got 400 hours to go. Totally doable, right??

Here are some adventures we've been on in the past while...

Mesa, AZ Temple

June 2013

The temperature when this photo was taken was 113 degrees. 

I may be smiling, but inside all I'm thinking is "UGGGGGGHGHASLKSLDKJFALASLKDFIWOW."

Les gusta EL BIGOTE!!

Best quarter I've ever spent.

Summer 2013.

He said it was too big.

"That's what." -She

Summer 2013

EASTERN IDAHO STATE FAIR: the classiest get-together in all of east Idaho. Hence hence his manners in the first photo, and his expression in the second.

Hand-dipped corn dogs are freaking delicious.

Fall 2013

Hey everyone, COME SEE HOW GOOD WE LOOK!

Geoff and Ciera met us at the fair and we had a jolly time. Ciera is adorable and Geoff has a cheesy smile. What else is new?

Fall 2013

He was definitely not impressed with the chocolate covered bacon.

Fall 2013

My favorite photo. Isn't he adorable? I love his grin. He hates selfies but I have to insist. I want our kids to look back at photos like this and know that we have always been in love.

Fall 2013

We took a trip up to Tetonia this past September for some fishing. We came across this sign at our first stop. The first line reads, "Most of the Teton River Valley is Kuzin Lovin Hillbillies." This photo alone would have made the trip worth it.

Fall 2013

We had a blue-bird day, but there was a lot of wind so we didn't catch anything. We got lucky with the nice weather that late in the season so no complaints were had that day. Gotta love them Tetons.

Fall 2013

Teton River

Fall 2013

Selfies.

Summer 2013

 This panorama was taken from my parents' back yard during a storm advisory. Of course, when I hear "storm advisory," I immediately go outside with my non-waterproof phone to take pictures. I'm glad I did - these shots are sweet.

Summer 2013

Just after Thanksgiving, we said goodbye to an old and dear pup. Tank was 5 weeks short of his 10th birthday. He had kidney failure and had not eaten well for a good year. 

He was a good dog. He used to sleep in my bed with me when I didn't want to be alone. I'm a lucky girl to have had such an awkward, loving friend.

We suppressed our sadness by playing with husky puppies at Sportsman's.

November 2013

Early morning drive.

December 2013

Jeff, Jeff, and Geoff.

the Jeff's are both named Jeffrey Grant, by the way.

January 2014

This picture is potential blackmail. I'm sure Jeff wouldn't want you all to know that he wears my sunglasses. But any misconceptions are automatically ruled out by his beard.

Fall 2013

Another update to come soon! I will hopefully have the patience to update you all in more detail. I got distracted by the photos...

Les amo!

simple souls

update much? since it's been 10938209347928 days since i last updated ya'll i thought i'd hop on while i couldn't sleep and let you know how jeff and i have been doing so far.

we're fast approaching our 6 month mark at this end of this month. weird, right? i still remember the shell-shocked look of excitement jeff had in his eyes during the sealing ceremony. haha. currently we're both workin' away, gettin' that dolla dolla bill...ya'll. sorry. jeff is working with his client in a montessori school and he seems to really like it. from all the stories he tells me it seems like he really connects with his client. i'm at best buy, and yes i do have to wear that ridiculously blue shirt. i usually whimp out and wear the hoodless sweatshirt they gave us for wintertime. most days i actually really like my job. but there are days when i want to rip my hair out because people are so mean. seriously, guys. i don't care how much money you're spending on that giant TV. you don't get to be mean to me. okay, moving on.

 jeff will be starting a phlebotomy (i didn't even need autocorrect on that, thanks.) vocational training course starting the beginning of february. for those of you who don't know what phlebotomy is, they are the ones that stick needles into your arms for blood/plasma samples and donations. and yes, i am slightly terrified to let jeff practice sticking me. he told me the needles are tiny so i guess it's a labor of love, right? i'll let you know how that goes. no promises on a cheerful post after that though. we're both out of school for the time being. jeff has applied to ISU and Weber State in Ogden in hopes of being admitted into their clinical lab science programs. i really admire him for his steadfastness in his education goals. i don't think he's changed his mind once. i'm a completely different story. i can't make up my mind. i change my mind almost every single day. i'm thinking of exercise physiology or science. anyone with any experience in those categories, advice would be greatly appreciated.

our plan is to head back to school this coming fall. i'm only 21 but it feels like i'll never graduate from college. my dad told me to calm down, i'm still young. i know i am, but thinking that i graduated from high school almost three years ago is a weeeeird thought.

so, i'm a total noob with blogging, especially the whole formatting scene. so once i figure out how to embed photos i'll put some up of the wedding and also some nifty little crafts i've been doing. also, as with every other woman on this planet i am LOVING pinterest to the point of concern. seeing all the creativity in one place really sparks my imagination. i really want to get back into drawing and painting once we can afford supplies. (ha, i don't think we'll be able to afford much of anything soon except for the occasional dine out for chinese food and gas.) ah, to be newlyweds. we're poor but i love it. we've got everything we need.
 thanks for stoppin' by, but mostly you stay classy.

 "Don't stop imagining, the day that you do is the day that you die."
         -"17" by Youth Lagoon.

Limbo.

Well, world...today means 41 days left (but who's counting) and what an adventure it has been. I find myself in the middle in so many aspects, mainly homesick for my younger days but so excited and anxious to just grow up already! But if I've learned anything this past year, it's that we will always be waiting for something or another...be it school to end or start, to get or quit a job, or to get engaged or have it be over already (this one's me). I've learned a valuable lesson so listen up so you don't have to go through the same drudgery.

JUST BE HAPPY.

A date on the calendar won't change your attitude. Waiting for time to speed up never works, and you almost always end up being more impatient and irritated anyway. Just be happy where you are with whoever you're with and through whatever ridiculous task or long, boring chunk of time you happen you find yourself in. It's much easier (and less stressful) if you just give up the impatience and just try to be happy no matter what you're doing. I must confess I am extremely bad at that. I'm hoping that since I've told all of you publicly I'll feel obligated to take my own advice. We'll see how that works.

With that in mind, I'm proud to report the planning is still going smoothly and I'm happier than ever. Lots to think about, lots to do, lots to think about thinking about...ai de mi. It's all coming together, though. It's crazy to think how so many experiences earlier in my life have helped me prepare for the experiences I'm going through now. I always thought that God must love jigsaw puzzles because it's always been my experience that it all works out in the end. And if it's not okay, it's not the end. Funny how that works.

Until next time.♥

Yes, I broke down and started a blog. My inspiration was my sister Jessica Belnap, who is expecting a baby boy in 4 weeks. From what Jessica tells me via her blog, he is going to fit in just fine with the Belnap clan. Sounds like he kicks his feet against the pricks a little bit already, which is so typical of me and my siblings! Nonetheless, I'm excited to see him soon and tickle his little feet!

What would you even write in a first post? My life's story? Don't worry, I'll spare you. The biggest event in my life right now is that I am getting HITCHED in 57 days 15 hours and some odd minutes. It's an extremely weird feeling to think that I will be sharing absolutely everything with another human being. I am sure I'm the luckiest girl in the world to love and be loved by my fiance. He is the first and last thing I think about each day.

Planning has been surprisingly smooth. I was fully prepared to kick my heels against the pricks myself at some point during this adventure. I have been spared of any such need thus far, however. My mom doesn't seem surprised though. She has said more than once that "if it's supposed to happen, it will happen," meaning the ease of planning this whole ordeal is a good sign that I'm making a good decision. The funny part is I didn't need that sign. I already knew.

Aside from wedding stuff, I've learned a great deal about myself after being in college for two years. Here's a list, which I hope will entertain you at least a tiny bit.
I'm terrible with money. Where does it all go?!?
I hate cleaning, unless I'm already doing it. Then I can't stop.
I love cooking. I'm just like my dad; I make a meal up and I don't ever write down what I put in it. Drives my mom nuts.
I love time period movies, especially Pride and Prejudice. Yeah, laugh it up.
I'm sooo stubborn. Sorry Jeff.
I've eased up on my music obsession. I actually can't even listen to it while I study now. In high school I was constantly listening to something. Sometimes silence is nice.
I hate The Aeneid by Virgil. Sorry, Bro. Thompson. This means I hate your class. Maybe you should teach world civilization like you're supposed to and I wouldn't hate an important piece of classic Roman literature.

Among a thousand other things, I think the most important thing I've learned is the importance of family. Strange how mine has grown closer now that we've all moved away. I love them all so much. I'm doubly excited to gain another family at the end of July! I'm proud to say that learning to love them won't be hard. They are all WONDERFUL. I just can't resist saying one last time that I really am the luckiest girl in the world.

Don't count on me to be extremely consistent with this whole blogging thing, but I'll try. Bye for now, kids.