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. :)