The New Home

Hi everyone! You'll likely have noticed many changes around the blog. I figured, hey, new family, new home, might as well give the blog a fresh coat of paint. However, it's not just KT anymore (nor are my initials even KT anymore) so I logically also had to change the blog name and address.
But Katie, why didn't you just create a new blog? Wouldn't it have been easier?
No.

Anyway, to the point of this entry. Jared and I, after our wedding on July 28th, had been living with my parents up until last week. Now it's time to start a new school semester, which means moving into married student housing up here at the Y of I. We're incredibly happy to call this little place home. 

I worked in California until Thursday night, we drove all day Friday and then again Saturday beginning at 6am. By 10am, we had the keys to our apartment, and by 11, we had unloaded our first car-full, met our neighbors, and scored a free tv.  We then proceeded to dash to the nearest bed store to ensure that we had somewhere to sleep for the night. Then we hopped back in the car, drove to Idaho Falls, and picked up a vacuum, a microwave (what kind of apartment doesn't have a microwave these days?!) and a million other little necessities. By Saturday night, our bed was made, our bedroom free of clutter, the bathroom had a shower curtain and towels, the kitchen had basic tools, and the rest of our apartment made us look like hoarders. On the plus side, the first trip home from the storage unit filled our car once again, but attracted the attention of half our building to help unload. It took maybe five minutes. 

Sunday was our first day in a married student ward. Unlike the single student wards, where everyone goes by their first names, we're Brother and Sister Allen. Also, there's the constant drone of a few rattles. Regardless, it was kind of fun.

Today was our first day of school, and Jared's birthday. We had a religion class together with a teacher we've had before, so that was really nice. Other classes were the basic first-day routine. Nothing too exciting. We were both done by 12:30, as we will be every day, which totally rocks. Jared will usually have work after that though. 

After school, I took my first stab at baking an Angel Food cake (from a box, of course). I now have my first oven spill to clean up. Yummy. The cake soon became part of a Strawberry Shortcake trifle. Because, you know, why not?

Jared, the greatest chef of our age, called it the best Strawberry Shortcake he'd ever had. Score!

And what birthday would be complete without Sparkling Cider in plastic champagne flutes?

The flowers were from Jared today.
"Happy Birthday!" he said with a grin as he presented them to me.
"But Jared, it's your birthday."
"Happy My Birthday!"
I love him.

So those are our latest adventure. More to come, I'm certain. Hopefully next time I post, we'll have the last two rooms assembled. Maybe.

-Katie A.

Remind Me Again: What is Sleep?

Home again. Well, back in Temecula. Home is where the heart is, which means for me, it's wherever Jared is. So I guess right now "home" is an hour from here. But I'm with my mom and sister now, so "home" is here too. I've definitely missed them.
Finals always seem to drain the life out of me, especially when compounded with having to make my apartment "white glove" clean at the same time. I think I got about fifteen hours of sleep all week, and that's including half the drive home. But you know, I'll take what I can get.
Six days, eleven hours.
That is how long I have until I become Mrs. Katie Allen, and gosh dang, six days and eleven hours is far too many. So much is happening this week, I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever get to settle down. Oh well, it's totally worth it.
Anyway, just thought I'd let everyone know that I'm back in California safely, and
I'M GETTING MARRIED IN A WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!

T - 6 Weeks!

Oh my goodness. I'm getting married six weeks from today. I woke up this morning with that pit in my stomach that tells me I'm missing something, so I've been going over my lists a dozen times trying to make sure I have everything together. Jared, meanwhile, is trying to convince me that everything is being handled. He definitely balances out my crazy. Regardless, the list this weekend involves:
-Finalizing our invitation lists
-Dressing the groomsmen
-Picking out our wedding bands
-Picking out music for the reception

I really wish I could just jet home really quick and see how everything is going.

School is going well, though I kind of had a week off. I got super sick last Friday, and my body has taken a whole week to recover. Meanwhile, doctors have no clue what's going on. It's fun! Not really...
Otherwise, I applied for my school's paramedic program and was put on the waitlist. I'm not sure how far down this list I am, but I registered for other classes regardless. If I get in, I can be done with school in three semesters. If not, it'll be an extra year added on to my time here. I'm really hoping I get in.

Jared is doing well. He was able to test out of Spanish classes, giving him the credits he needs to get on fastgrad, which will allow him to go to school year-round. That'll be really nice for us.

I hope everyone else is having a great beginning-of-summer! Love you!

I have no clue what to title this

Jared finally got to have a hand in the wedding planning and excitement. In the twelve weeks we've been engaged, he's barely gotten to do anything except help pack the bridal shower gifts and yay or nay some things over skype. Alas, yesterday, we picked out his suit. We're both very excited about it, aside from the fact that he'll be wearing it on our wedding day. For him, it's the first time he's had a well-tailored suit, for me, he just looks so gosh darn handsome in it! Okay, I'm done gushing.

Our weekend otherwise has had a damper on it as I've been sick. Even now, I'm staying home from stake conference so I can recover and hopefully not contaminate too many other people. It ruined so many fun things, like...not letting us stay out until curfew. Okay, so maybe it's just forced me to go to bed earlier and be half-miserable, but that's about it. All the same, we didn't get to see the supermoon last night or have any Cinco de Mayo-related fun. (maybe I can blame the heavy rain on the lack of supermoon, but regardless, I'm bummed.)

Hopefully the next week goes better!

~~~~~~~~~
82 days until the wedding!