Cheddar is Better

I'm starting to realize that my husband thinks the Lukes eat weird foods. Some of our most beloved meals growing up do not impress Dave. Today I introduced him to the "american cheese melted on a tortilla in the microwave" quesadilla. I was really craving an easy snack, so of course I thought of this old family fave. I made him take a bite to see if he liked it--he didn't. He promptly made a microwave quesadilla with cheddar and proclaimed "Cheddar is better!" I beg to disagree...it's not better, it's just different.

Dave does not appreciate the Luke family hash pizzas, waffles for dinner, spam, egg mc muffins or tuna on toast. I don't know if this marriage is going to work...

Lots and Lots of Peas

I've been trying to use what's in my freezer so I don't waste food. While working my way through all of my freezer food I have found like 4 bags of peas. I apparently thought I was out of peas every time I went to the grocery store! Now I'm trying to think of meals to incorporate peas...so far I've got chicken pot pie and shepherd's pie on the list. Any other ideas for meals with peas?

He Knows What He Did!

I took some time out of our busy school schedule to decorate for Christmas. I have the nativity set up on the high boy, my cluster of trees near the piano, and I set up my Räuchermänner (smoking men) on my sewing cabinet. Here is what they are supposed to look like:

Dave and I have been doing nothing but homework lately. We sit around and type papers and finish projects. Dave had a long, beastly paper due last Friday. He woke up at 8 am and worked on it for 14 hours straight. I would periodically check on him to see if he needed anything. One time when I went into the living room I found the smoking man who is painting the nutcracker like this:

I asked Dave what was going on, and his reply was: "You'd better ask him, he knows what he did!" Needless to say, we were/are both a little loopy from so much homework, so I obliged. I asked the smoking man what he did, and he told ME that he didn't do anything to deserve being put in time-out. Dave begged to differ. He says the smoking man tried to sabotage his paper...he apparently jumped onto Dave's computer while Dave was working, or so Dave says. I think Dave just got bored and started playing with them--after all, his chair is right next to the smoking men. I did get a good laugh out of the whole incident. I wonder what the camels in the nativity scene are going to do to Dave next...I'll keep you posted.

Besides doing homework, we had stake conference last weekend. I sang in a trio for the adult session. We sang "Love at Home." I feel like there should be more to say about that, but there isn't.

6 months

Today is our 6 month anniversary! I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. It has been a really good 6 months. Dave and I are going to dinner tonight to celebrate. I keep trying to get Dave to buy me a present on each month anniversary--no dice, except for this month! Dave printed all of our wedding pictures and put them in our wedding photo album. I love it! Now I can just sit and flip through the best day of my life, or one of the best days!

Dave's Germs are Mean

I have decided that Dave's germs are mean. They don't like me, or that's what it feels like! Dave had a cold earlier this week, he was sick for about a day. I got the same bug a few days later, and I've been in bed since Thursday. I finally went to the doctor yesterday (I swear, I am usually not this sick) and have bronchitis...or I got enough drugs to think that I do. I left the health center with: decongestants, cough syrup, cough drops, an antihistamine, an inhaler (albuterol) and an antibiotic (z-pac). My side table is starting to look like a pharmacy! So, like I said...Dave's germa are mean!

In other news, there is strike on U of I campus starting tomorrow. The GEO (Graduate Employees Organization) is striking for a guarantee of a tuition and fee waiver for all graduate students. There has been bargaining going on for a while, and it has come to a strike starting tomorrow. That means that any class taught by a TA will be cancelled until things are resolved. I am not striking, but it will still impact me. We'll see what happens.

The Latest from the Kay Household

Our branch's Primary Program was yesterday. The kids (all 4 of them) did a great job. I taught them the second verse of "I'm Trying to be like Jesus" in German. They remembered all the words and the actions we made up. I was so proud! Now I have to start preparing for next year. Bleh...it never ends!

Pictures from the Indianapolis Zoo

Indianapolis

Dave and I spent Friday and Saturday in Indianapolis. It was great to get away. I will post more pictures later and give you a run down of the trip. We basically wandered around downtown Indy and then went to the Zoo on Saturday morning. The hotel we stayed in (thanks, Hotwire!) used to be the old Union Station. You can even rent rooms in the old pullman cars!

Making the Bed

My mom made the bed every day of her married life that I can remember. Dave and I are not so good at that. The best way that I have found to actually get me to make the bed every day is if I have European bedding. That means all I have to do is fluff the duvet and my pillows. Germans actually fold the duvet in half and just fluff the pillow. I love it, I've never been so consistent with making my bed as when I've lived in Germany.

Needless to say, neither I nor Dave are good at making our bed. If we don't make the bed then all of the pillows that belong on top just sit in front of my closet and it is impossible to find clothes. So, we made a goal to make the bed every day. Dave made the bed Saturday morning. This is what he did:

I was grateful that he helped us reach our goal of making the bed, cuz we for sure didn't make it on Sunday. I guess that would have been my turn. Oops!

Dave's Birthday Party

Well, it's official. Dave turned 30. He is now the same age as I am. He has mourned his 20s and is now embracing his 30s. To help him transition I threw him a bday party on Saturday night. We just sat around and slept on his actual birthday.

I love planning parties, so Dave's birthday was the perfect excuse. The concept was simple: come and hang out, play some guitar hero, and bring Dave 30 of something. People got really creative. Giles gave Dave 30 chicks (donated through Heifer International), Amanda gave him 30 Starburst, he got 30 pencils and erasers, 30 bandaids, 30 3 Musketeers bars, 3o popcorn kernels, chocolate chips and almonds, etc. I have to say, when you put 30 of something in a baggie, it doesn't look like much. I guess Dave isn't that old after all.

I enjoyed planning and making the food. We had 7 layer bean dip, bruschetta dip and cupcakes. I was quite pleased with myself when I made the 7 layer bean dip...I made it all in my springform pan. After letting the flavors meld (aka sit in the fridge) I just pulled the sides off and it looked like I was a layer-stacking genius!

Lots and Lots of Grading

I keep trying to think of something witty and amusing to share on my blog. Unfortunately, I don't have any kids like Ella, Owen or Varinia to do crazy things I can write about. I do have a husband, but he's pretty normal most of the time. Dave has a really good friend, Caren, who is a gemini. She and her other gemini friends invented what they call "Gemini Games." Dave considers himself an adopted Gemini, and as such he loves to play gemini games. That means he likes to do random things in a repetitive way: He gives high 5's 10 or 15 times in a row, he uses his hand to sing me songs (picture holding your hand horizontally in front of you and use your thumb to imitate a mouth moving) and other things that I can't remember right now.

Besides playing gemini games with Dave every once in a while, I have been doing a lot of grading. The course I am teaching this semester is GER 250: Grimms Fairy Tales in their European Context. It's an English-language course we offer in the department. It's been fun to read the fairy tales in their various versions (they are nothing like Disney, if you didn't know). This is a writing-intensive course, so I do nothing but grade. A few weeks ago the students--all 40 of them-- handed in 6-page essays. I'm still grading them. Here's hoping I finish them eventually!

Sonic Onion Rings

I just got a major craving for Sonic's Onion Rings. Maybe it's because I worked there for so long, but I haven't found better ones at any restaurant. The batter is a little bit sweet, it is light and flakey and you can still mash your OR to fit in the ranch cup you are dipping in! I can't stand onion rings where the coating is like a flack jacket...it's so thick that you can't even find the onion!

What foods do you crave?

Beginner II

I am in adult swimming lessons. Ashley has mocked me, but I think it's a lot of fun. We meet every Tuesday for 45 minutes. I got a few friends from the singles ward to sign up with me.

I learned that if I were in better shape I would probably be able to sign up for the advanced level. Most of the participants seemed to have only recently learned to swim, and were afraid of the deep end. Not to say that I'm an amazing swimmer. We had to do the freestyle the equivalent of maybe 6 lengths of the pool. I thought I was going to have an asthma attack and my legs were sore. But it was a great feeling!

Thanks, Ashley!

So, Ashley took up my cause and helped me with my blog. What do you all think?

Work in Progress

So, I've tried to re-work my blog. You all make it sound like it's no big deal. Too bad I don't enjoy playing with things like my blog background! Now I can't figure out how to change my header/banner from being green. It just doesn't seem to have any menu where I can change it. Ashley said she would edit my blog. I might have to take her up on it.

Need New Template

Hi all! I need a new template for my blog. I'm bored with what I have. Any suggestions? I don't really have time to surf the internets for a new one.

Oh, and I was in the ER last week. I'm convinced Dave is trying to kill me! That's 2 ER visits in 3 months of marriage. He says it's just my immune system trying to equalize with his stellar one. Don't worry, though. I'm on antibiotics, slept the whole weekend and am feeling much better.

Lots of Traveling

Dave and I have been doing lots of traveling this summer. In total we have: (1) driven from Illinois to Utah and back [Dave drove back--my foot was broken] for the wedding, (2) driven back to NE [Dave and Logan drove--with a broken foot] for the Lincoln reception, (3) driven to Nauvoo to see Dave's step-sister, bro-in-law and niece and nephew, (4) driven to NE to see Parker's baptism and Logan before he went to the MTC, and (5) driven to St. Louis for a quick day and a half for Giles and Tiffany's sealing and reception. WHEW! Dave and I are done with road trips for a while, so if you want to see us, you'd better come out to Illinois.

The wedding was great! Tiffany was gorgeous in her art deco dress and Giles looked awesome in his European-cut suit!! Dave was a groomsman and I was a bridesmaid. Now Dave and I have some good new additions to our wardrobe: tie, cuff links, gorgeous purple sheath dress and a brooch. I did Tiffany's hair for the wedding, too...except I forgot my up-do supplies at my hotel in downtown St. Louis, had to drive back to get them after already driving for 2 hours to get to breakfast at Tiffany's hotel (mapquest direction's failed me!) and then had to drive back to Tiffany's hotel to actually do her hair once I had the supplies--oh yeah, and then drive back to my hotel to check out by 1. Do you understand why I'm sick of driving?

Canoeing in the Rain

This past Saturday Dave and I decided we were sick of being indoors. That get's tricky with my broken foot and a cast. I was given the go-ahead to start putting a little weight on my foot, so I slowly hobble around. When deciding what outdoor activity would be well suited for a gimp, I thought of canoeing at Kickapoo State Park, near Danville, IL. Saturday morning we checked the weather, there was a 23% chance of rain and decided it was worth the gamble.

We drove the 45 minutes east to Kickapoo and rented ourselves a canoe. We decided that the 8 mile section of the river would be a good start. As soon as we bought our tickets and rented our canoes, oars and life jackets it started to rain--and not just sprinkle. It was a nice midwestern rainstorm, lots of rain in a short period of time. The rain did not stop the tour, though. We all piled into a school bus and were driven to the mouth of river where we would enter. It was sprinkling by this time, but it was warm. I hobbled down the muddy path carrying our oars while Dave managed the canoe. We got it in the water and shoved off. Three hours later, after 4 or 5 intermittent rainstorms , and one capsizing incident we made it to Kickapoo landing. It was a great day!

Dave assured me that he had his canoeing merit badge, so there would be no problems. Except for the current we misjudged that flipped our canoe and sent me floating downriver to catch my oar. Don't worry, I got wedged on a log, and when Dave and another canoer flipped the canoe back around I only got smashed by the boat and forced a little mit more into the log. If I didn't know Dave loved me, I might have to thing he was trying to off me. ;)

Next time we're hoping for higher water levels, as we scraped bottom a few times. I think the water level was at less that 2 feet, which I find surprising for the amount of rain we've had this summer. When my foot gets a little better we'll switch to kayaks as well. Dave is done with this canoe thing...he wants to be a champion kayaker. Is there a merit badge for that?

P.S. We don't have any pictures from the day, cuz when the boat capsized our camera got a little wet, despite the ziploc bag it was in. We didn't want to turn it on and ruin it.

Mrs. David Kay

So, if I'm not going to write anything profound, I figured I could at least post some pictures.

Tomato Gardner

I will post a picture later, but I was gifted a planter box on Sunday. I'm so excited!! I'm going to plant tomatoes on our back porch. I really don't want to have to buy them all summer. Here's hoping the squirrels don't reek havock on my plants!

Let the Countdown Begin!

It is May 1, and that means there are 29 days until Dave and I get married. In honor of the big day I made a paper chain with which to countdown. Dave and I were joking about making one, and then I needed a distraction while doing my homework so I resurrected my elementary school craft skills. It only took me like 20 minutes! I felt like I should be draping the chain around my Mrs. Ohlin's school classroom (while singing "You're a Grand Old Flag") or a Christmas tree. So I draped in on my piano instead. It will be fun to watch the chain get progressively shorter!

All Tied Up

I have had lots of balls in the air of late, but who doesn't? We mailed our wedding announcements Saturday morning, and it seems that many of you have already received yours. So, hooray! You're invited to my wedding. Sunday evening I got a little bored. I just needed a break. Logan was watching Lost Season 3 (or was it 4) all afternoon. By about 7pm I'd had enough. In the episode we were watching Charlie was all tied up by the two mean girls in the underwater station. We decided to test how good we were at tying each other up in a chair...just like Charlie. We wanted to stay true to Lost, so the first time around I tied Dave up (since it was a girl who tied up Charlie). Dave got out pretty easily, confirming our suspicions that Charlie could have easily escaped if it were real life, and not a TV show.
Logan then took his turn, he thought that he could tie me up so that I couldn't get out. This is a picture of me right before I slipped out of the ties that bound me. Turns out that double hitch, sailor knot (or whatever he called it) wasn't any better than my girl version. I think I should join the CIA, I'm so good at getting out of being tied up!

btw: school is fine. I'm just trying to finish up a bunch of projects before the end of the semester. It's old hat at this point.

Blueberry Muffins and Invitations

When I need a break from homework, this has been my project of late: addressing and stuffing wedding invitations. If only you could see what they look like--I guess you'll have to wait for yours to come in the mail!

Whenever I can't think of a side dish to go with a meal, my fall back is always Blueberry muffins. Tonight's menu: tacos and blueberry muffins, which makes me think of taco salad and cinnamon toast. That sounds good, too.

Pictures from the Marathon

I finished my leg, and Amanda is off!
Amanda's parents were kind enough to drive me from my leg to the end of the race.
L to R: Amanda, Bojana, Kathleen (ran the 5K) and me. We had just sent our last runner off...Giles! The one person who can run quickly. He did 7 miles in 56 minutes.
Whitney and Amanda chillin'
We were team # 2594, I ran the first leg.

Illinois Marathon

This past Saturday I was part of a relay team for the 1st annual Illinois Marathon in Champaign-Urbana. It was a lot of fun! The sun was shining and it was perfectly cool weather for a long distance run.

Now don't get all excited and think that I'm any kind of amazing distance runner. My leg of the marathon was 7 miles. I didn't train like I had planned so I ended up running for the first 3 miles and run/walking for the last 4. I still averaged something like 12-13 minute miles. So, I'm proud of myself for finishing.

Our relay team came in 181/192. Not bad, considering 3 out of our 4 runners aren't really runners. :) The race started just south of Assembly Hall (the basketball arena) and football stadium, and then looped through town a few times. I got to run past the FLB (Foreign Languages Building), where I spend most of my time, and run through Meadowbrook Park, a park with a nice trail where I usually train. It was a nice route to have.

My legs have been jello for the past two days. Dave has been really good about making sure I get enough sleep and pulling me up off of the couch and up and down stairs when I think my legs might give out. We're just practicing for when we're 85! He's been great! I love him so much!

I can't get a picture to post, so I'll do that as soon as I can.

Heritage Singers

Logan and I are in a choir called Heritage Singers. It was created by a few BYU grads who are here in IL studying choral music. It is full of people who used to be in BYU choirs...and me and Logan. I think it's a lot of fun to be considered an alum of BYU choirs.

So, anyways...the choir was started last semester. We did a Christmas concert at a local Lutheran church and also at the stake Christmas program. When we came back from break we started on an Easter program. That concert was tonight. We sang at the Lutheran church again. We have one more performance memorial day weekend, but I won't be there since I'll be driving to Utah for my wedding.

Wedding Details

Everything is coming together slowly but surely! I just talked to my florist, my bouquet should be gorgeous and funky! I tried to upload a picture, but it's being weird.



On another topic altogether...I'm eating leftover tacos for lunch. They're so good! Complete with tomatoes and lettuce. You know it's not a taco without them!

New Post

So, I know I need a new post, but I can't think of anything to write about. My life has been full of lots of wedding planning...of course. I think we have all the major details worked out. We've found a florist, photographer and have an idea for invitations. Now I just need more hours in the day and everything is perfect!

Pandas

Amanda came back from visiting our friend Jillian this weekend. Jillian imparted some pearls of wisdom. If ever you're having a bad day, just google pictures of pandas. It will always make you feel better. Now Amanda and Jillian keep sending me pictures of pandas...I will admit, they make you smile.

Check out this youTube video if you need proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNYfZd8iV2k

Chilighetti

1 med. onion, chopped
1 lb. ground beef
1 qt. canned tomatoes (I think I use 10-15 oz cans)
1 clove garlic (or powder)
4 cups or 2 cans chili
1 (8 0z.) pkg spaghetti
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Brown onion and ground beef. Drain. Add tomatoes, garlic, and chili. Simmer. Cook and drain spaghetti. Add to chili mixtures. Sir in cheese and sour cream. Pour into casserole dish; top with parmesan cheese and bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. (I'm pretty sure Mom doesn't bother baking it...she just warms it through like pasta carbonara)

Craving Family Favorites

I have really been craving all the foods that we ate as kids. I have wanted to make chilighetti, zippy beef casserole, and I even thought about Tuna on Toast. But don't worry, I won't ever make it. I did go for a good Mormon standard tonight...Chicken Delight. When I told mom that's what I was making said that there is nothing better than that "I just cooked broccoli" smell lingering in the house. So true! I just walked into my apartment after going to the gym with Dave and got a whiff of "cooked broccoli." Somehow, that's part of the family favorite charm...

The engagement story

I guess I had better share our engagement story with the world...

Dave totally surprised me! I wasn't expecting the engagement at all. My 30th birthday was February 17th. I told Dave I didn't want anything for my birthday, so he showed up at my apartment February 16th with an un-birthday present. Monday went along as usual, I did lots of homework, Dave had class until 9pm.

I have voice lessons on Mondays, so I followed my normal routine. I trade my voice teacher, Bryson, lessons for haircuts. We had arranged to cut his hair that night. After I cut his hair he lingered. This was not a big deal, we hang out all the time. But looking back it was VERY obvious he was stalling. He hung around at watched TV with me. Whilst (one of my favorite new words) we were watching my good friend Holli called to see if she could bring me an early birthday present. I had no objections...

Holli showed up at my house about an hour later. She had a big oval green box with a homemade card in her hands. I was still not suspicious. Holli makes me cards every year, and I've saved them all. I love them! I realized something was up when I opened the box and saw Dave's handwriting. There was a note for me to read, and another box to open. Dave found a set of nesting boxes...there were 10, to be exact. He wanted to make my wish come true of being engaged before 30!!

Holli and Bryson were smart and grabbed the camera. They took pictures of me frantically reading the boxes trying to figure out where Dave was. Honestly I skimmed them...I wanted to know where Dave was! I realized the boxes were getting smaller and smaller, and I didn't want the ring to be there without Dave. After I read the boxes I knew I had to go meet Dave on a bench. I just didn't read closely enough to know WHICH bench.

I live on the University of Illinois' Golf Course, the 8th hole to be exact. Right off of my porch is a fairway with a bench. I thought Dave was there, and was ready to run outside. Holli stopped me to tell me to read more closely. He was not at THAT bench. If I had actually read all the boxes I would have known that he was at the bench near the clubhouse with candles. I grabbed my coat and Holli and Bryson offered to drive me to where Dave was, one block away.

As soon as I could see the candles and the car stopped I jumped out and ran (Holli says I bounced) to Dave. I grabbed him and gave him a big hug. He dropped to one knee (he brought his bath mat so he wouldn't get his knee wet from the wintery ground) and asked me to marry him. I said YES!

The date is set for May 30, 2009 in the Draper, Utah temple.

I'm engaged!

Dave and I right after he proposed!



I guess I'll have to post the full story later, but the important news is I'M ENGAGED! I am the future Mrs. David Kay, and I'm soooo excited!

Kick Start My Heart

My good friend Jillian who lives in Indy
Our Mums. People kept stopping to ask us what they were. I continually deferred to Dave to explain. Giles and Dave had a lot of fun making these!
Valentine's Day at the Roller Derby: the bout was titled "Kick Start My Heart"
Sporting their garters...

Valentine's Day was great! We went to Indianapolis for the roller derby. It was a blast to be at the derby. Dave made me a mum to wear. Apparently it's a Texas homecoming tradition. The guys make mums with ribbon and trinkets tied to them. What Dave made was only 1/3 the size of what the guys usually make, I"m glad he didn't affix a teddy bear to a cluster of mums. Dave said that girls have to wear back braces they're so heavy!! It's tradition for the girls to make a garter for the men to wear on their arms. I googled what I should be making, and attempted to channel my non-Texan roots. Dave says I did a good job! (I'm pretty sure he would say that regardless)

Already mid-February? (Feb 9, 2009)

Holy Cow! I can't believe that it's almost mid-February! Where has the year gone? I'd like to say that I have something super-exciting to report. However, I'm mainly back in the grind of grad school. It feels like I have more work than I should for this early in the semester, and I would love to get more sleep than I do. I think that's just wishful thinking!

I did have a minor miracle happen today--or at least it was for me. My computer has been acting up. I have started seeing what Logan terms "the blue screen of death" almost on a daily basis. I was panicking, worried that I'd have to buy a new computer. I thought I'd try to think rationally and instead send an email to tech support once I got to campus this morning. We have a really great computer guy who works in our department, I knew he could help me out. It turns out that all I needed was to get all my music and photos off of my hard drive. They're eating up my storage. I just bought an affordable external hard drive and should be good to go...once I find the time to hook it up and delete/move files. :)

Final days in Utah

The last few days in Utah were spent playing with Ashley, Shelby, and everyone else I could find. I played a lot with Owen, my new favorite nephew. I was trying to help him learn to walk, but it was a no go. I heard he is taking his first steps. Good job, Ow!
Kevin played with us when he could, which included taking a picture of his daugter and her plumber's crack! I was dying...I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!



Final picture with Ashley's kids until next year! Why does Owen look like he has a comb-over? I love you Emily, Tyler, and Owen! It was so much fun to hang with Ashley again...can't wait until the next time I'm in Utah!