One year down...two to go!

I am officially done with my first year of grad school at Loyola!! WOO HOO!! I submitted my last paper tonight and will get to now enjoy the rest of the evening watching t.v. and eating. This last week was a little rough with finishing up all my final papers and trying to pay attention to Kyle at the same time. My co-workers said this is the first time that I have appeared to be stressed...probably has to do with the moving next week as well. At the time, it seemed like the first year of grad school was going by slowly but when I look back I realize that it flew by! I can't believe all that Kyle and I have accomplished in this past year with both graduating from college, moving to another state, starting grad school and new jobs, getting robbed three times, and attempting to establish a solid marriage as well! I think that we have done pretty well thus far...

Now I get a little break before an interview next week for another part-time job and then start summer classes at the end of May at Erikson Institute. I can not wait to start this new chapter in my life with moving and Erikson and hope that things continue to look up for us!

Just another short story: Kyle made me buy this cheese at the grocery store that was cheaper than all the other cheeses. I told him that it looked different and wanted to get the Kraft Pizza kind, but he made get the cheap stuff. When I made homemade pizza this week I noticed that the cheese was not melting in the oven and I kept thinking that I forgot to turn the oven on. When I looked at the package I noticed that it said 'Imitation' cheese and 'Not for melting'. What??? Needless to say, we just brushed the cheese off and it was okay because I put string cheese in the crust. Moral of the story: buy the good stuff and don't listen to your husband!

Cubs Game

I got to go to my first CUBS game on Monday. Our friend Matt Reisetter sells tickets on Ebay and gave us some free tickets while we were in Cedar Falls over the weekend. The weather was great, our seats were great, and the CUBS won!!! I ate so much junk food (a hot dog, nachos, and cotton candy) and did not feel very well the next day. I guess that is why I don't eat junk food on a regular basis....ugh! It was also a nice break from finals for awhile.

Busy Busy Busy

Kyle and I had a great weekend in Cedar Falls this past weekend for our friend's wedding! We were able to hang out with Mason for a little bit as well!At the wedding with the girls! I can't wait to go back again...
I was happy to see Alaina for a few hours! We got to play for a little bit before heading to the wedding. She is getting so big and we miss not getting to see her much.
Apartment update: We got one!!! We are moving the 1st of May. I finish up with school on Monday (the 28th) and then I will be busy packing! We are excited for our new dishwasher and like the new location as well. I will post pictures when we are settled!

Round #2

Today we put another application in for an apartment in a nice central location. We are hoping to hear back by the end of the week but it is looking promising because the leasing agent talked with the landlord and he said that it was available for May 1st. Someone else put an application in for June 1st but he said that he would like to fill it earlier. Anyway, hopefully we are done!

Final Verdict on the Apartment

We didn't get the apartment....the leasing agent said that another person had put an application in before us but the landlord was waiting for them to sign a lease to say that it was not open anymore (that is why the wait was long)! Our agent is going to show us another unit that we liked again tomorrow morning and a few others so we are hoping to sign a lease shortly! Bummer...

apartment update and the cougar!

I just got off the phone with our leasing agent from the apartment finders company. She said that she still hasn't heard back from the landlord and is concerned that maybe we should continue looking if we do not hear back from her by tomorrow. I am rather upset about this because I was really looking forward to the washer/dryer in-unit and not sure if we will be able to find another way within our budget...hopefully everything works out for the best.

By the way, did anyone hear about the 100 lb. cougar that they shot in Chicago (Roscoe Village)- the same neighborhood that the school I work at is at?? Odd!

R.I.P. Money Tree

Way back in 2005, Kyle said that he wanted a plant to put in his dorm room at Wartburg. My sister, Bethany, went to Target with him and helped him pick out the Money Tree. We hoped that it would actually bring us money but it did not. Anyways, we loved the Money Tree and cared for it like our baby. The picture in the car is from 2007 when we were transporting it to Chicago to live and now rest forever in peace. Because our apartment faces the tiny courtyard, we do not get much light and the Money Tree shortly started to die. Each day, leaves would fall off or turn brown. While shopping in Jewel Osco one day, Kyle and I spotted a new baby Money Tree from a distance and decided that it was time for a replacement. Shortly after Money Tree #2 arrived, mama Money Tree felt like it was time to let go and lost all but one leaf. Several weeks ago, she went to the dumpster. Here is a great picture of their last few days together. We are hoping that our new place will bring much more light to our new baby.

Keeping our Fingers Crossed!

Kyle and I just filled out an application to a new apartment and are in the waiting period to see if it gets accepted!!! YEA!! The hopefully new apartment will feature:

1. a DISHWASHER!! something that we do not have right now...we are one week long rotations of who's turn it is.

2. washer/dryer IN-UNIT!!!! currently we pay around 40-50 dollars/month for laundry.

3. a separate living and dining room area

4. permit parking so only people that live on the block park there

5. and...three blocks from where I work (only a little walk versus a 40 minute bus ride)

We hoping to find out later tonight or by Tuesday so pray that the right thing happens.

Easter post finally...

I have been meaning to write a post about our Easter but since we got robbed the day later, it was put on hold. Anyway, our Easter was great! Kyle and I helped in the nursery at church for the first service (around 28 infant and toddlers in our room) and then went to the second service. Following the service, a couple from our small group came over for brunch: our annual egg bake!! We then ate jelly beans and chatted all afternoon. The couple that ate brunch with us has a Easter tradition of going to Chinatown for Chinese food, so we went with them for supper. We had fun and wish the day afterwards was such a horrible day....

You know you are busy when...

This is what happens when you get busy...









This is what you have to do afterwards...

I just hate laundry because the pile is never empty!!

Update...

I guess it is about time for an update! Our apartment searching has been continuous for the past few weeks with nothing that we have found that we like...We have narrowed down a few neighborhoods and are about 85% sure that we are going to stay in Chicago though. I have been struggling with staying on top of school and work instead I am focusing on the search. I think that I am coping with what happened through internet searching for new places to live! Hopefully we will have a place to call home soon!