House Hunting

Oh boy oh boy. Is this a headache or what?! We are doing the best we can looking for an apartment of some sort to live in after we get married. Travis will move in before JMU starts in January and I'll join him after our wedding. Originally we'd wanted to find a place in Staunton but we are finding Harrisonburg a little more successful. Staunton is between Harrisonburg and BV so the commute will be shorter for me to school for a month (than living in Harrisonburg) starting in March but will be a pain for Travis. It really doesn't make sense to live in Staunton and have both of us be "commuters" so it is looking like that will be my job... It won't be easy but it will be fun. This past weekend we looked around in Harrisonburg and we had a good time. Found a place we know we don't like, drove past a couple complexes that could work, and toured our dream house. The picture above is of a place that is three levels. Each level is set up to be a separate apartment. There is nothing wrong per se but... it was pretty dingy. That was interesting.

I got to see the hospital that I will most likely become very well acquainted with if I get into the JMU program (cross your fingers and pray for me!!)

Its brand new and beautiful inside. I could TOTALLY see myself working there- its gorgeous. We ate the lunch that I'd packed and made our way over to the mall. Travis picked out the wedding band he wants (it about 3 seconds, its so easy to please this guy)- it was nice to see him so excited. After that we got to go to this really nice house in Staunton. We could rent the basement at a fixed price but if we decided to rent the two upstairs levels we could be the ones to rent out the basement... yadda yadda. It sounds well and good but we decided no matter how much we like the granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and massive master bedroom we just don't want that much responsibility right now. We don't want to be in charge if the downstairs tenants are dummies and don't pay rent. So, although we are IN LOVE with the place we've decided its better to start small. We are looking on craigslist now for options but if anyone has ideas we are open to those.

We had a really fun time together. It is getting closer and closer to the start of our eternity and we couldn't be happier. Thanks to those of you who support and love us.
-Anna

Weekend with J&S

Lindsay and Kris went to New York for the weekend and they left the kiddos with me!! We had a great time going to Chuck E Cheese, McDonalds, Woodson's last football game of the season (just me and Josh), helping in the garden, making pancakes, going to church, dancing, and mostly hanging out. The kids were very well behaved the whole time. It was sad to have them go.

Sophie's Birthday Party

I can hardly believe it- little Soph turned two last month. She had a family birthday party and was so well behaved during the whole thing. She got more presents than most entire families give on Christmas but she was very thankful for such a little kid. Soph now has more dresses than she will ever be able to wear, baby dolls and accessories, books, dress up clothes.... if you think of it I bet she got it.

 Readin the cards with Dad

 This is not a drill- she put on as much as she could when she opened presents

 Sophie and Grandpa

In one of her new dresses kissing her baby- who got a matching dress

Singing Happy Birthday

Sophie seemed to have a good time and so did we. I'm glad I was able to come up from school to be there, that Travis didn't have to work, and that the rest of the family could make time. Lindsay made a lot of great food and put a good amount of work into the day- thanks Spivey family.

We've set a date!!

Travis and I are getting married on March 19th at noon!!! It was made official today!

Luau

This weekend I headed home for my mom's Luau. She is the Ward Activities Chair Person up there and had put a TON of work into this party. For months all she has been talking about every time we go out is finding things to do at and to decorate for the luau. All her hard work paid off. It was a great time, the ward loved it. She brought in hula dancers, had games for the kids, taught people how to tie a lava lava, played sticks (never heard of it before) ATE FOOD, and much more. She even brought in a bunch of bamboo and had a little hut made. It was outside and was a windy day but she pulled it off. Travis did an abbreviated version of the ha'a; a type of Hawaiian war chant/dance that the University of Hawaii Warriors do before their games. His voice is still recovering from yelling so loud. It was a great time!!!  (I stole some of these pictures from my sister's blog- if they look familiar.)

Homecoming/Parents weekend

Saturday morning my parents and Travis came down for the Homecoming game and parents' weekend. It was very nice to see them all and spend the day with them. We went to Mountain days- an annual activity on the Main street of BV with little vendors, cloggers, food and lots of southern baked goods for sale. It was neat to walk around and my mom loved seeing everyone's dogs. Afterword we went to the SVU football game vs Gillford and SVU WON!! GREAT JOB KNIGHTS!! We had dinner at Solernos- a little Italian joint that my friend Becky works at. She served us and we had lots of food. Right before my parents were about to leave and take Travis back with them we decided he should stay and go to the Homecoming dance with me. Wasn't that nice!! I hadn't been to one at SVU and since I am graduating in May this would be my last chance. We scurried around buying pants and shoes and borrowing a shirt for him to wear. It was fun for my friends and I to get ready together- just like high school times. At about 1 AM  we went to an all night diner for french toast and hot chocolate. The dance was great and the company was even better. It meant so much that Travis stayed.
Sunday we had the opportunity to go to Stake Conference where our friend from home, Alex, came as well. She lives around the mountain but came to this regional meeting. It was nice to see her. Travis and I had lunch before it was time for us to drive up to Harrisonburg and meet up with his family.
I am so glad that my parents came down and that Travis could too!!

I love to see the temple... and go to panera.

On Tuesday SVU gave us the day off to go up to the Temple. The closest one for us is the Temple in Kensington, MD for us members of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. Travis drove up and spent about 20 minutes with me before he had to head off for work. He spent about 5 times that in the car getting to and from the temple but it was great to see him for even for just a little while.
Lindsay was kind enough to meet me there and take me out to lunch at Panera. We had a good time together and as always the kids were great. Sophie surprises me every time I see her with how much she is growing and how much she is able to say. Josh is such a sweet boy and has nothing but kindness in his heart. Lindsay is pretty cool too :)
It was a long drive up and back, on a hot and stuffy bus, but it was nice to spend some time at the visitor center and with my family. A day well spent.