So...it's been a while...

Welp, yes. I avoid blogging now. I feel a teensy bit bad but not really. Having access to Facebook immediately has been a lot of fun and those of you that actually take the time to read this usually are on Facebook anyway. So my new goal is to do it. Actually take time to blog. Why?! It's probably a good thing. As I hope to aspire to be a great writer, (ya know the kind you feel like you're having a conversation with?) this could be a great beginning.

First, We are in Rexburg, still. This is a good thing because we've mapped out Steve's life (and ours) for the next 2 years. We looked at the newly updated grad report thing, and honestly, i was lost at how it all worked with the clicking and dragging and such. But, alas he figured it out. A requirement for all majors now is an internship, or two. He luckily only has to do one. Communications is great! He wants to do an internship with the LDS Motion Picture Films in Salt Lake. Not bad, I thought to myself. This is a good thing because he kind of all ready has his foot in the door. Steve wrote a paper on film and such and I didn't read it but it was about something to do with 'how do you keep your values when there is so much suggestive/bad entertainment'. He wrote a few e-mails and made a great paper. I believe he got a 95 or something super.

Living in Salt Lake would be kind of nice. Especially more kind of nice because it's a bigger city. I love big cities and would majorly enjoy a change of scenery. Salt Lake isn't far from home (Idaho Falls for both of us). In case we wanted to make a trip, it wouldn't be extremely spendy, plus we would be able to see Steve's only sister, Amanda, more often as well. We see them but not as often as our kids would like.

Another plus about living in SLC would be it's a vast artsy city. Yes, I'm being selfish. All the fine dining and shows and OPERA and such I would devour. People think I'm weird because I love opera and classical voice studies, but some people like weird things like bug/coin collecting and Bollywood. I mean, come on! JK! One of my dear friends took an internship in Mumbai, that she didn't have to, just to go. Smart. Woman. I miss her dearly. AND -- She is a classically trained vocalist. What a pair?!

That's the plan, BUT, Steve's got to secure the internship first and hopefully a position. He's doing very well in school. It just gets packed at midterms and continues until the semester ends. He is serving again in the Rexburg Temple on Saturdays and looks forward to each week to temple service. I went this Saturday while he was leading the 2:15 session and I popped over to enjoy it. I always pray for my children because with Taylor being on the Autism spectrum I never really know how to handle him. But, over the course of his four years of existence we've definitely learned a lot and will continue to do so.

Olivia is almost two! In a few weeks she will be heading for the 'best' time of her childhood right? I don't know if I fully believe in the 'terrible twos' because there's the 'trying threes' 'frantic fours' and so forth. Bia is completely different from Taylor which is really fun and maker her unique. She just found my chap stick and will not put the lid on. I don't ever really remembering being super girly. Until I was about 14 I don't think I even really cared too much about appearance other than I had both shoes on and my hair pulled back so I could run faster than the boys. I always did have crush on someone but I had no idea with boys. Oh, the days! Man, being little is great.

Bia gets my shoes out of my closet and tromps around in them. Good thing I have a big variety of heels, but I have not mastered finding a white pair...I must press on. Bia likes having her hair done but the process usually requires her brushing her teeth. Then I can actually get her to stay still. Her pigtails are super, super cute and she can even style a ponytail that also curls. I don't ever use any product just water. She is such a sweetheart and looks out for Taylor. She will get string cheese from the fridge and she will say she wants to get one for Taylor. Steve and I both know that she will be one of the most influential and helpful people for Taylor. She will conquer things that we can't. Olivia and Taylor are best friends.

Another, and possible, final thing is, get ready.

Oh, yeah. I did it.

I pierced my ears.

Yes, read it again.

Those of you that know me well know that growing up this was a forbidden art. Why? Just because. I never really understood why my Dad wouldn't let us but we just didn't. I think I asked maybe once or twice and he simply said, "No." Another time he said, "Grandma doesn't have hers pierced, so why should you?"

End of story. Nothing left.

I came to realize that I just never was going to get it done. I became all right with that and just recognized that it would never happen. It was a frustration for ballroom costumes and high school dances because I never felt like my ensemble was complete. Magnetic earrings hurt and clip ons were becoming extremely outdated. Once you found a pair of clip ons they would hurt, too. It seemed easier for it just to be done.

When I got married Steve told me that if I pierced my ears he would give me diamond earrings. That's a pretty good incentive but I didn't feel right about it. The prophet came out with the statement that "one modest pair of earrings is sufficient". I was happy with that but I didn't even have one. Steve never really pressed the issue but I always wanted my ears pierced. Crazy, I know, but this was a big thing in our house. The first time I bought a two piece, tankini, swim suit my dad was furious. I thought really nothing of it other than my dad would be upset. Now being 26, married, have a bachelors, and two kids, I figured I could do it and it would be no biggie. I came out of Claire's in tears.

I felt like I really had defiled my dad. I know he loves and has done everything and continues to do everything for me, but it was a moment of pain, almost. What I was doing wasn't wrong or bad or horrible, it was just what my dad didn't want. But I have always wanted it.

When my younger sister found out she said that due to ballroom my mom had almost pierced her ears to keep her earrings on for all her competitions and performances. Then she said that my dad had changed the rule to 21 for pierced ears. I guess I was overdue.

All in all I don't regret it. I think it's a lot of fun and I was excited. They were pretty sore for a while but my six weeks is up June 11th. I've even bought a few pair to celebrate the release of the studs.

I'm tiring out, but we did go to Disneyland and Vegas and Boise. We're done with trips for a while but it was wonderful and so glad to spend those trips with my little family and my sweetheart.