OH The Awesomeness

As Emily and I were walking back to the car from the battleship the other day I couldn't pass up the opportunity to walk up this little ridge to get a look at the view. It was just before sunset and I knew there was a water channel on the other side. I was pretty sure it was going to be awesome. As you can see, this is a beautiful view. Now, some may say that the distillation towers, furnaces, and flares ruin the view. "Oh how beautiful it would be without those ugly oil companies." Personally, I think they are a beautiful accent to an already great view. Don't you think?



Paul

San Jacinto Monument

Our first Saturday here Paul and I were sitting on the floor with no couch and no chairs trying come up with something to get us out of the house.
Several people in our ward recommended we take the drive to see this Monument.
I was pretty intrigued...knowing nothing about this thing.

Within the first few minutes of being there I found out that this spot is actually where the San Jacinto battle took place. This was one of the key battles in Texas winning their independence from Mexico. (I've been told I should watch "The Alamo" I can't remember if I've seen it)

All around this monument they have made the grounds look like the original battle grounds during that time. If you pay 5 bucks you can take a ride to the top of this thing and I'm sure see most of Texas. Someday Paul and I will return and do just that.








This is a must see for whoever drives through this area.
It was a little windy....hence the amazing picture! Don't we look so HAPPY?

Paul tells me that it's a lot like the Washington D.C. Monument but better because it's 15 feet higher and it's all one color.

Without knowing it we also stumbled onto this baby!
This is Battleship Texas. It was commissioned in 1914 (at that point Battleship Texas was the most powerful weapon on earth) and was






used in both World War 1 and World War 2.

If you desire to jump aboard this thing it will cost you an additional 10 bucks. Again, someday I will have the pleasure! Apparently they let people spend the night on it all the time...I'm not sure that's what I'm looking for!

The Gift

Side Note:
It's pretty awesome when you go to wash your hands...you've just filled them with soap and then you turn on the water to find that there is none. So in desperation to get the soap off you go to your only drinking water supply and rinse your hands. I guess I'll be using hand sanitizer for the rest of the day. It would have been really nice if someone would have told me that they were going to turn the water off today. I'm thirsty just thinking about the lack of water!

Real Post:
Since Paul and I got married I have been searching out the best sewing machine. My Mom got a sewing machine in her teens from her Mom and to this day it is still her favorite machine. I was determined to find an old Bernina like hers that was made of solid metal so I never had to worry about anything breaking.

For Christmas Paul surprised me!!! I didn't even have to do any work he found it all on his own...with some help from my Mom. I started quilting on it last week and it sews like a dream. I feel so spoiled.


I have plenty of time and a lot of projects to finish so wish me luck! I am already getting ideas for next Christmas.

The Apartment

I hate apartment complexes with a fiery vengeance. Paul and I have been shafted one time and I still look back on that dark time and shutter.
I like renting in Utah where you sign a one page contract with some random person and you never see them until you move out. With this complex I had to sign my life away...25 pages and 4 hours later we had a home.
I think the people in charge are really trying to make me like it here....and I think it's working...so far.
How could you turn down freshly baked cookies everyday, or theater popcorn? Not to mention the billiard room, the fitness center, the park, the pool, an excess of grills, and a pretty awesome walking trail? They even have two fountains to make the landscape look overly elaborate...but I'm thinking those are going to come back to bite us during the summer when they turn into mosquito infested ponds.
I am so grateful that we found something that works for us.
This summer is going to rock!

Farewell Utah...

*I don't miss your freezing temperatures and I don't miss your endless gifts of white fluff.
*I do miss my family on Sundays and menacing my little sisters awake in the morning because I'm bored and have nothing to do. Oh...and who could forget the on going game of Donkey Kong!

This year I packed up my tree and my house before Christmas and moved into my parents house for a few days. We made gingerbread houses, watched Christmas movies like they were going out of style, went caroling, and wrapped gifts all night long.
Christmas was amazing; Paul and I have been so blessed this year. Life just keeps getting better and better.
After Christmas with both families Paul and I packed our little car and headed across the country. I don't think I was quite ready but I wanted to get the finding an apartment behind us and allow Paul some R&R before he started work.
So we drove and drove, and then we drove some more. And after eating out as many times as we did I swore off eating out for a very long time. I will not miss the grease and extra butter.
Everyone in the ward had been awesome, our community is pretty quiet for the most part, and the weather has been great. It's weird...I kind of feel like I'm in some sort of a time warp and it's May in Utah... except for the ocean being so much closer which kind of throws everything off.