Who needs school when you've got the Bahamas?

So. At long, long last the newlyweds are posting (applause). Thank you Elise for the gentle nudge to let the family know what we've been up to - which, in a little more than two months of marriage, is a lot! Here follows the main business of the last month and a half:

- Will is taking more than 17 credits, and is studying his brains out. Math, science, and Russian - he is busy busy busy. Except, of course, when certain distractions arise (i.e. the call of the netflix free trial).

- Kristen is very busy as well, as she is currently writing her honors thesis on Women Writers in 16th Century France, and studying for the GRE (grad school exam), as well as putting in her application for the French Masters Program at BYU. Fingers crossed that all goes well!

But enough about school. We just got back from a cruise a couple of weeks ago! We skipped the first week of classes (and freezing temperatures) to go with Kristen's family on a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas, and then spend the rest of the week in Orlando going to (drum roll please)...HARRY POTTER LAND, the Kennedy Space Center, and DisneyWorld. Yes, we are living proof that dreams do come true. It was an incredible vacation, and we loved every bit, even if we had to spend the next two weeks frantically making up missed school work. Totally worth it!

Will in his snorkeling gear in the Bahamas. We saw a shipwreck and some jellyfish (whoever said January wasn't jellyfish season lied)...!



Here we are on the cruise ship, about ready to get off in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. In the background you can see the huge Atlantis hotel. That's right; we went to the lost city.



Nassau. A SWEET horse and carriage. The city was dirty, crowded with cruising tourists, and surrounded by the most beautiful blue waters you've ever seen. Best part of the day was when Will found a HUGE conch shell for only $3. It's now on display in our bathroom.



Will searching for live conch shells in Cococay, the other island that we went to, while being camera-stalked by Kristen:



HARRY POTTER LAND!!! Will and Kristen in front of the crimson Hogwarts Express (can't you just see the excitement on our gleaming faces???).



Just hanging out in the Boar's Head in Hogsmeade drinking up our fair share of butterbeer. Mmm...



Here we are in front of Cinderella's castle at Disneyworld, wearing our "Happily Ever After" pins they gave us! Though Disneyland was awesome, both of us agreed that Disneyland takes the cake...but it was still a great day.



Now that a super fancy honeymoon, cruise, and theme park frenzy are behind us, we are the most spoiled newlyweds in history. But don't worry - now it's back to the regular grind for us.

Funniest thing i've seen in years!!

Good Books, Good Looks

Anybody else think the little girl in this advertisement resembles mom in her youth?


Go. Read. Learn.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASWINI.

He's only 18 years away from 40. But we Love him. Happy Birthday! We were glad we could celebrate together.

I LOVE COMPLIMENTS

My step-cousin david clark called yesterday to express condolences about marco. he reminded me of how i took him to his first post-mission dance at byu and helped him reaclimate to civilian life! i told him i had kids at byu now and he asked if my daughter was there. "Does she look like you?" Unusual question from a guy, I thought.
"Yes, she really does," I answered. "Except more of a brunette than blonde."
"Then she's a knock-out! Cause you were. And she's gonna have no trouble at BYU!"
I relayed this lovely message to dad and was gratified to hear him tell me "that's what I've been saying, honey!"
By the way, David Clark formed Synergy International Inc. (synergyii.com) which is the oldest energy saving company in America--30 years old this year. They show utility companies how to save money during peak usage hours so that utilities don't have to build as many power plants.

Intro to Art and DRAWING

So after ceramics class last semester, I am on to my next art endeavor: a drawing class! This is both my wildest dream and biggest fear.

For our first assignment we drew self-portraits. And to be completely honest I am not sure it is as good as Will's portrait of me that turned into John Lennon, but at least I thoroughly enjoyed making it.



Mom do you like it as much as you liked my ceramic mask? ;) love ya.

Sweet poem I heard on the radio today.

Diagnosis
by Sharon Olds

By the time I was six months old, she knew something
was wrong with me. I got looks on my face
she had not seen on any child
in the family, or the extended family,
or the neighborhood. My mother took me in
to the pediatrician with the kind hands,
a doctor with a name like a suit size for a wheel:
Hub Long. My mom did not tell him
what she thought in truth, that I was Possessed.
It was just these strange looks on my face—
he held me, and conversed with me,
chatting as one does with a baby, and my mother
said, She’s doing it now! Look!
She’s doing it now! and the doctor said,
What your daughter has
is called a sense
of humor. Ohhh, she said, and took me
back to the house where that sense would be tested
and found to be incurable.