Have I ever told you...

... the story of how David and I met?

Today is Jordan Macoutel's birthday. And November 25th is our anniversary.

Jordan Macoutel could be the sole reason that David and I met.

Isn't it crazy to think that little decisions that seem SO insignificant can have such a big impact on our (or other people's) lives?

David got home from his mission to Chihuahua, Mexico in April of 2008. On a Friday Night in May, Jordan Macoutel had to drop something off at David's parents house for his mom. David asked what Jordan was up to that night and Jordan told him that he was going to leave to a YSA activity up at Ensign Ranch. David (who never had attended a single YSA activity) asked if he could go with him. Boom. We met.

The following monday (after the YSA activity) David moved to Texas to be with his sister. We had only known each other for 2 days, but he felt impressed that he needed to move back home. We dated for the rest of the Summer and then at the beginning of Otober he popped the question.

As we celebrate our three year anniversary I look back on these events and can't express my gratitude enough. There isn't any person on this Earth MORE perfect for me than David. I don't know how I got so lucky.

New ward means new calling

WE'VE MOVED!!!

Officially.

Our mailing address has changed to Leavenworth, WA, our records have been transferred, we've been asked to give talks, AND I HAVE A CALLING (more on that later...)

We had the Summers Family reunion last week. ALL of David's brothers and sisters came to Leavenworth and we partied it up. We went rafting on the Wenatchee River twice (washed out once...), watched James get baptized in the River, hosted a talent/variety show (our act was "Friday"), ate at the Munchen Haus, and had a blast playing Glee Karaoke! The weekend following we went camping with my family as a part of their annual Camp Gas camping trip. For the past 3 years we have been in ID so we couldn't go... BUT NOT THIS YEAR! We sported Camp GASS (Gasca, Allen, Snyder, Summers) in style!!

David and I have been taking this week and enjoying the peace and quiet so that we can get our regime set up and really get to feeling like we are "home"... (because it still feels like we are on vacation...)

When we got back from camping on Sunday, Davids sister Ellen told us that the Stake Presidency asked to meet with Bro. and Sis. Summers on Saturday. Naturally, they thought it was for BJ and Marty... but they were wrong. They wanted to meet with David and I. So I asked David if that was normal, that the stake presidency would come to meet with new members of the stake... he shook his head and said that wasn't normal, and to expect a calling. Boy, did I not prepare myself as much as I should

On Tuesday David and I were visited by a member of the Stake Presidency. He told me that they wanted to extend a calling. I've been called to serve as a SEMINARY teacher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been thinking again and again how they must have the wrong person. I'm only 22!! Seminary teachers are supposed to be so much older with so much more experience and knowledge. I attended Seminary and I just gazed up to the ceiling and kept watching the clock.

But, at the end of the day, I am excited for this calling. It is going to give me such a great opportunity to learn things from the Old Testament that I missed. This is such a perfect time in my life too. I work 4 hours a day and can spend the rest of the time preparing my lesson!

Luckily the Stake President told us that he would like to see David and I team teach as much as possible. THANK THE HIGH HEAVENS!!!!!!!!!!

oh... what???

ya thats right... IT'S JUNE 28TH!!!

and we're feeling very productive over here.

Dental Applications?? Check.
Posting our Townhome to rent? Check. ... (and still in progress...)
Supplementary applications for dental school completed? Check ... at least for now.
David getting offered a job to work as a dental assistant? Check!!!
Me getting offered to work remotely part time for Archibald?!? Heck ya!! Oh... and Check!!
Seeing my best friend on Saturday?? CHECK!
Three day weekend?? Check!

OK... shoot... well, what do we have left on our to do list??

In-law's coming to graduation
GRADUATION!!!!!!!!
Moving July 23rd as early as possible!! Oh that WILL be a bold italicized underlined check!
Family Reunion with ALL of the Summers
Camping with the Allens
CRUISE #1
CRUISE #2

OK, I'm getting ahead of myself. But this Summer is going to PROBABLY be the best summer. EVER.

ya that's right. I said EVER.

PUPPIES!

No, we aren't thinking about getting another puppy (although this little black girl makes me want to get another one!!), my sister is thinking about getting a puppy from the same mom and dad that we got Lucy from. So Lucy will have a little sister that we can take back with us! Here are some pictures of the puppies:

and here's Lucy, all tuckered out from having fun.

David's my hero.

This semester is the BEST semester EVER!!!!!!!!!

it's our last one.

But thats not all! David isn't taking 461 anymore, WHICH MEANS, he has more time for me! He still has to take biochem, neuro, micro, and evolution... but nothing, oh no, NOTHING, is as difficult and time consuming as 461. Thank the high heavens that is over!!

Last week David took the DAT. YIPPIE!!! He did AWESOME!!!  which means... no more stressing over that dog-gone test!!

David also started teaching his dental waxing/carving class this past week. He is actually an employee of BYU-I! I also get to take his class! He is SO talented at this stuff! and it is NOT easy. But luckily, i have an "in" with the professor. I wonder if I there are some things I can do for extra credit...

So... you might ask, how do you celebrate graduating under-grad and relax before embarking on four years of dental school? Well. I say. Two cruises. That's how.

David and I booked our cruise to Puerto Vallarta, Cabo, and Mazatlan about a month ago. AND THEN! My family decided they ALSO wanted to go on a cruise. So, we are going with them! They are just going down to Cabo. But my family has never done anything like this. WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!

ALSO, looking for renters for our place!!! Spread the word!

Here's Lucy, of course. :)

Goodbye's

I've never been a fan of 'em. Especially this week. I feel like its been just one big week of goodbyes.

GOODBYE #1 - to David and Lucy for the weekend while I went to WA to spend some time with my family.

GOODBYE #2 - to my family. Who I don't see NEARLY as often as I would like. Luckily I was able to see them only after 3 months this time and not the usual 6. Jen, Chris, Ryann, Molly, Mom, and Dad are going to come visit us here in Rexburg at the end of June. I am SO excited. I have so many fun things planned for them! They are going to get all of the BEST that Rexburg has to offer!!

GOODBYE # 3 - to my in laws. They were on their way home to Leavenworth from Spanish Fork, UT and came to spend one night with us. We went and ate at Jimmy Johns, tried and fell in love with my first MACAROON (an eternal love affair as begun), played the T Shirt game, laughed and just enjoyed being with each other.

GOODBYE # 4 - to our great friends, the Lamberts. Chris and Audrey has been there since day one. Chris and David were in the same stake back home. I met Audrey at Chris's mission homecoming. David and I had just started dating and Audrey and Chris were JUST about to start dating. I fell in love with Audrey this night! She was so sweet and so willing to make an outsider feel completely welcome. Chris was the DJ at our wedding and they had just got engaged. They moved up to Rexburg and we have been best friends ever since. We have had countless nights of laughing and game playing and eating yummy desserts that Chris would make for us. We drove to WA with them for Christmas twice and had such a blast on our road trips. We would play karaoke and belt out THE WANDERER like nobodys business! I will miss these best friends of ours. Audrey was accepted into her graduate program in Michigan. They will be there for two years. I really hope and pray that it isn't two years before we see them again.

GOODBYE # 5 - to our other great friends, the Hesselgessers. It breaks my heart to know that we have been here in Rexburg for the past 2 1/2 years, and hadn't started hanging out with them until only the last 4 months. Kelly has shown me how to cook amazing (and somewhat risque) cookies, coupon, and how to be an amazing mom!! They have been so much fun to play killer bunnies, joker, the newlywed game, and of course, CARCASSONE! Tyler and Kelly... we love you guys!!! I can't wait until we go rafting/boating/camping this summer AND when we all attend UW in the fall of 2012!

Goodbyes are hard. But it means we are all achieving our goals and going towards the next step in life. It's definitely VERY bittersweet. In 4 months we, too, will have to pack our bags and say goodbye to Rexburg. As much as I can't wait to move back to WA, it's going to be really hard to move. This is our home.

MY ROMANCE IS CHEMICAL.

I went home to WA this weekend to see my FAVORITE band in concert. Did I tell you that this band is not only my favorite, but my mom's as well? AND my sister, Kim's??

We saw them once at Project Revolution a few years ago. But that just didn't compare to the pure awesome-ness of last night.

My Chemical Romance.

You might think that this band is just for GOTHIC teenagers... AND that my mom sister and I will stick out like a sore thumb, AND you are probably right... but who cares, we had fun!!

Doors opened at 6:30. So we thought that if we got there at 6:45, we could just walk right in. Wrong. We were at the back of the line standing in the rain (thankfully we were one of three who had an umbrella) and had to wait about 45 minutes before we got in the door. The opening bands were something architects and Neon Trees. Here's a vid from Neon Trees doing Animal (the only song I knew...)

MCR came out with a new album about 6 months ago. It's good. Really good. But I am still in love with their second album. The Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge album. It's crazy and out there. Like me. You might remember some of their songs from this album like Helena and I'm not okay. I was really worried that they were only going to play songs from their new album. Which would be okay, but I REALLY wanted that second album to be highlighted.

My dreams came true. This was the second song they played - and it just so happens to be my FAVORITE.

Ya. You might not really be able to understand the lyrics... but any MCR fan can. But the point is,

LOOK HOW CLOSE WE ARE.

It was awesome. We could see every facial expression. Granted, we had to be EXTREMELY close to the people in front, behind, and to the side of us - and probably was gropped one to many times ... but again, ALL worth it.

Here's Helena. From the second album.

I am always reminded of my dad when I hear this. He is so confident that the lyric is "Because I met her in Franc-AY" instead of the actual lyric "Things are better if I stay"

He's Funny.

I was going to put two more videos up... but I think that blogger has a limit on these things? Bummer. For you anyway...

Just in case you didn't know... I love my chemical romance. and my mom does too.

Here's Kim and I on our way.

here's a pic of us before they came on...

 We had LOTS of fun!!!!!!!

Now I'm ready to go home. and see david. and see lucy. I miss them like CRAZY!

beware the cheese!

At work today I had my ipod on shuffle and this song came on

This is our song.

and I love it.

Do I understand every word in this song? No. But I understand the best parts about it!

Solo tú, solamente quiero que seas tú

Just you, I only want it to be you

OK. Sorry for the sappiness.... but I love my mexican husband!

Keeping busy... and Lucy of course!

I have been doing some really fun things that have been keeping me quite busy!! Which is awesome... because I find myself with a lot of time on my hands when Dave is doing schoolwork.

But, the first thing that I was up to was helping my friends Carrien and Hannah plan our dear friend Audrey's baby shower! (she is so cute pregnant!) I was in charge of making the party favors. I went to Wal Mart with Dave and was determined to not leave that store until I found something that I could put some pastel colored jelly beans in. David is so funny and so easily distracted. Finally I had to stop him and ask him what I can put these in, and he goes "uhh.... baby food jars?" DUH!!!!!!! WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT? genius. pure genius. I went home and came out with these....

Here's a picture of them all together

But the truly amazing creation of the party was the entire table put together. It was SO beautiful!! Carrien hand made those AMAZING cupcakes and Hannah did the dipped pretzels and the diaper cake. I hope Audrey had fun, because we had fun creating it!

So as everybody knows, or at least most, that David is taking the DAT on April 18th. He has been SO swamped this semester. It seems like we hardly ever get out. He has his head in books from morning to night. I just know that he is stressing out. Not only about his classes but that HUGE DAUNTING test that is quickly approaching. Seriously, the classes that he is in eat up SO much of time. He just can't study for the DAT as much as he would like to. SO, in hopes to help relieve some stress, I came up with these....

I took all of his DAT study books and created these daily study tests for him to take. There is a question for Math, Biology, Organic Chemisty, and General Chemistry. We know that these are not going to replace the actual studying for the DAT, but I figure, if he can at least do one of these a day, he won't lose all of the chemistry/biology information that is stored in his noggin!!

ALSO! We booked a cruise!!!!!!!! YAY!! I actually get to leave this country and go somewhere OTHER than Canada! David has been DYING to take me to Mexico ever since we met. So to celebrate graduation we are going on a 7 day cruise to Mexico. We are going to port out of Long Beach, CA. I thought it would be a good idea to fly into CA two days early and go to DISNEYLAND before we embark on our voyage. I've never been to Disneyland. But anybody that truly knows me would agree when I say that this place is probably the home that I've never been to. It just screams my name.

OK. Here are some long awaited recent pictures of Little Miss. We got her groomed on Wednesday. I know that you can't tell... she's rowdy and rampunctious and has wild hair.

We came home today and found Lucy like this....

I thought we taught her better than that.

YIPPIE-YI-YO-KI-YAY!

David and I have had so many things that we have been up to lately... we've just been running around like crazy!

On thursday, my boss Gary invited us to the Farmers Merchant Banquet. This is put on by the chamber of commerce and it includes a silent and live auction. We bid on one item for the silent auction, it included a gift certificate for the local vet clinic... and Little Miss needs her second set of shots in a week or so... unfortunately, we were not the highest bidder! But there were some other really cool items up for the live auction, like lift tickets and hotel room stay for skiing in jackson hole! we didn't bid, though, we figure that we will have plenty of time for that when we are rolling in the benjamins...

On friday, David and I had a MUCH needed date night!! This was so exciting for me... because I sure have missed my husband lately. I know what you might think, but any wife of a college student reading this will know exactly what I'm talking about. Our husbands may be home, but they are not really home. Their heads are tied into books that talk about kidney functions and other systems in our body that I can't even say, let alone spell. We went to quiznos... which I love, and then to see a movie! We went to see Gulliver's Travels... which, was okay. Not my favorite Jack Black movie by any means.

Nothing can, nor will ever, be greater than "did you not tell him they were the Lord's chips?"

Anyhoo, today David studyed in the morning for his physics exam, and then went and took the exam while I cleaned and hung out with Little Miss. After his test we went to see the Bar J Wranglers! Yee Haw!! We sure had a rompin' good time! Yer Darn Tootin!! and then we had Skyler and Brooke Romriell come over and play some games! Their little Preston is such a dang cutie. He and Little Miss just had so much fun! Which is nice... because we need something, or someone, to run Little Miss around so that she sleeps better at night.

Then, I was delighted to read my sister, Jens, blog post about her darling girls. I miss them. I can't wait to be closer in July!! You can witness their cuteness here.

Next is a GIRLS only paragraph.... so boys, quit reading!

Happy news today!! Aunt Flo has returned! Well, I wouldn't necessarily call her Flo... more like... Aunt... trickle? Is that TMI? Gosh, I don't remember the last time I had a full on need-to-change-my-product-every-4-hours flow. But, I am just glad I am getting something. My last one was in September... 6 months ago!!! Just glad to see I got some girl left in me. :)

All about Lucy!

Everyday we fall in love with Lucy more and more. She is the most charismatic, loving, and vivacious puppy that has EVER walked the planet!!!!!! My dear family has asked for some videos and pictures of our little gal... so here you go!!!!

Studying with Daddy makes her tired.... (she is so small here!!)

a little closer...

Her first bath!

We've had Lucy for about a month and a half and she has already doubled in size!

Caught ya!

So sweet!!

Here's a video of her when we had her for about a couple weeks. We should have known she'd be a biter!



She gets SO crazy around people! She just loves them!! She was just so excited to play with David's study partner Topher!

And for the GRAND finale... you get to see what happens when you leave two (sorta) adults alone with hair clippers and a really hairy dog...

KIDS, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!



T DAY

We planned on having David take the DAT at the beginning of January... BUT, as he was doing his many practice tests, we noticed that he may not have ALL of the necessary education in order to take the test to his full ability ... i.e., physiology, head and neck, and physics.

SO. we post-poned.

BUT NOW. it has been scheduled. April 18th. 8:00.

I can't believe that it is almost here! This score, will (almost) ultimately decide which school we have a good chance at getting in.

EEEKKKK!!!

My new PASSION

Things over here in the Summers family are going really VERY well!  I just can't believe its already almost the end of February! Spring here we come! And with spring, comes NO MORE SNOW on the ground. I never thought I would say this, but I don't mind the snow. I have found a new passion! SNOWBOARDING. Here's a picture to prove it!

I was on my bum A LOT at the beginning. But, I am here to tell you, if you are a beginner, DO NOT start out on the bunny hill! Mistake number one!! You just can't get the feel for it on the bunny hill! The only thing that I have really loved doing, is running. So this delightfully caught me by surprise. I don't know if David was just trying to be nice, but he said that I caught on better than anyone he has ever seen. By the end, I was going down the slopes without even falling down once! We are going again this weekend with our FAVORITE couples... The Hesselgessers and Quintons. I am just so excited. I can hardly wait! I will hopefully get a video of my awesome moves and post it for all of my four readers... :)

On a side note, I can't possibly end this post without giving more good news about David!! Brother Palmer, the dean of the biology department, has just asked David if he wants to TEACH the dental carving class next semester! Talk about an AMAZING resume booster for dental school. (which, by the way, we won't find out until this december where we are going).

OH, and here's a picture of Little Miss's first bath... 

I hope that makes your day. Because she sure makes our day. Every day.

LUCY!

Oh. We are all about spontaneity up in here.

and I think getting a dog without much previous talk about getting one counts a huge act of spontaneity.

Enter Lucy.

Tell me that even the biggest dog hater wouldn't have a broken heart just looking at that face?

Miss Lucy is probably one of the best decisions that we have made. She is a little bit of work, of course, but she lightens up our little home more than we thought she ever would. There is just something about having someone run to the door when you come home, excited to see you, that just pulls at your heart strings!

She is SUCH a well mannered puppy. At least, right now she is...

Our Trip to WA!

This is lengthy... sorry... there was a lot to cover...

Christmas was SOO much fun! We were able to make it home to WA to see our families for Christmas and New Years. (thank goodness). We made it to Graham on the day before Christmas Eve and that night went to dinner with my family to celebrate my sister, Jen's, birthday. Earlier that day Dave and I were talking about how fun it would be to go to one of those restaurants that cook the food right in front of you. Jen and I must be sisters with the same brain. She wanted to go to Iron Chef, a japanese steak house, where they do JUST that! It was SO much fun! Our server was the only white guy there... but he was pretty funny.

Every time I come home I fall MORE in love with my neice Ryann. She is the FUNNIEST 4 year old you will ever meet. I promise you. Her personality is a mix of her mom and dad - which is a collaberation of just pure hillari-osity. We played the game "headbandz" in which you put a head band on your head and try to figure out what you have by asking questions. Ryann is the one on the far left... that face sums her up to a T.  (PS... I wish that I had fixed my exentions prior to the picture being taken... they just look ridiculous.)

After we got home from being around her I found myself pulling "ryann's".

Ryann just LOVED David.. or, to her, she just LOVED DaviS. We celebrated Christmas Eve with our traditional exchange. David made out with some sweet sweaters from Kim... (thank you for contributing to his hotness!) and I made out with a CTR ring that I adore and the My Chemical Romance CD. (Mom is prepping me for our concert in April!). Emerson, Siarra, and Eric were there with us for Christmas morning and it was really close and special. We all took turns opening a present and then David and I made breakfast for the gang in my SWEET new apron that David had a friend make for me!

Here are some family pictures

Chico, Kim, and I watching some youtube. Thank goodness for youtube and its ability to provide hours of entertainment.

Jen and Chris

Siarra and our Frodo. Poor guy. He misses his wife.

Daddio and me

Emerson and Eric

Cooking breakfast in my NEW apron!

Miss Molly

We packed up and headed to spend the remainder of the trip with Davids parents in Leavenworth. I wish someone would have warned me that they had AT LEAST two feet of snow. I would have packed some boots... or a coat. We got hit with some colds and spent most of the time putting together puzzles and enjoying each others company. Their family are extreme game players - which I LOVE.

On New Years Eve we got a BUNCH of goodies out, finished our THIRD puzzle, and played games until midnight. This was our third New Years Eve together. Our third kiss into the New Year. and I can't wait for many, many more.

As a side note, the next time we "visit" WA, we won't be visiting. We will be HOME to stay!!! (at least until Dental School.)

                                                   

Here's a better picture of me modeling my CUTE CUTE apron that David made!