greaat! great! great!

We have officially started getting into the Weber State way of life! Last night we attended the Weber vs. Utah State game! Although we lost, we had such a fun time! We are so blessed to have the Garlicks to do things with! 

Seriously I don't know what I would do 

without this amazing lady!

Once the game got a little boring, we livened it up by getting really R E A L L Y  into the game! 

... Unfortunately Weber lost! 

We were really distraught!

Oh and Michael was there too. 

We love living up here in Ogden and look forward to our time here!

X O X

cray cray

I asked my Mother today why everything bad has been happening all at once.

She told me it is because we are being tested. 

Last week ended with our brand new car (the Subaru) not starting while we were in Salt Lake City. This is seriously the last thing we needed from that car considering ever since we bought it there has been something wrong with it.

T H A N K G O O D N E S S   M Y    D A D   O W N S  A N   A A M C O!

Seriously we would be so much more in debt if it weren't for my amazing Father!

So, half of the week was spent trying to figure out what was going on with the car.

On Sunday, we were asked to give talks in Sacrament meeting.

An hour before church, I was just finishing up on my talk when the entire thing disappeared right before my eyes!

Seriously probably one of the most stressful things of my life...

Needless to say my talk was extremely short, and I had to talk slower than slow to fill up as much time as possible. 

Then, Sunday evening I got sick. Seriously sick.

I dunno what happened but it caused me to miss work until Wednesday. 

However, on Tuesday, my tooth out of no where started to hurt so so so so so so so badly! 

Lucky for me, Michael had already planned to take Wednesday off, so he could take me to the dentist. Come to find out I have an abscessed tooth. 

F U N.

Luckily before the appointment, we were able to get Michael over to Weber State to get his Student Card! He is officially a Wildcat! I definitely had to resist the urge to sing High School Musical to him. He would have just L O V E D  that... 

On Wednesday we were also able to pick up Michael's Christmas present.

I seriously am the worst at surprises and I kept this one for so long! I just couldn't keep this one from him any longer! Michael has been wanting this guitar for so long, and I have bee hiding money away for months so he can have it!

H E   W A S   S P E E C H L E S S !

Basically it was one of the greatest moments of my life!

The dentist then dropped the bomb about my tooth.

Basically I am on lots of medication that knocks me out.

If anyone has been trying to contact me it's because I am probably sleeping.

To sum up this week, I have become overwhelmingly grateful for my wonderful husband!

When I get sick, I am absolutely 100% needy and he has handled me like a champ!

Seriously I married the most amazing person I have ever met.

I love him so much more this day than I did the day I married him.

X O X

semper fidelis (always faithful)

Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps!

This has been our 2nd Marine Corps ball together and it was so so so much better than last year!

Last year we went to Park City and Olive Garden.

T H I S   Y E A R   W E   D I D   I T   R I G H T!

First of all I put more effort into how I presented myself this time. 

Last year I just threw stuff together, but this time I took more time which always makes things more fun! Obviously we needed to have a photo shoot! 

Michael really loves these!

 . . . N O T . . .

Embarrassed? Nah... Life is to short for embarrassment!

It started out 100% better than last year for

 Michael because his Dress Blues actually fit!

This year they held the ball at the Marriott at City Creek.

We went for the ceremony where they honored a veteran from World War 2.

Basically the next hour was spent listening to his rated R stories of while he was in battle.

Basically, he killed a lot of people. 

Then, Michael and I headed out for dinner.

M I C H A E L   S P O I L S   M E .

Michael took me to T H E   R O O F!

Basically if you want romance, this is the place to go! 

They have someone there playing the Piano the entire time, and you literally have the most breath taking view! Michael Linley really knows how to treat a girl right!

X O X

The Pup

Michael and I are constantly laughing at and the silly things he does.

This is just a little example. While we were at Katie and Shawn's house a couple of weeks ago, Frank decided he really wanted to sit in my lap no matter W H A T.

Frank literally squished and folded himself into my lap!

He also loves sticking his nose into snug places like...
elbows, blankets, knee pits, and even sometimes
between Michael and myself while we snuggle.

This little guy has been with us 1 Y E A R  this month!
Can you believe that?
Frank is such an angel! We are so absolutely blessed to have him in our lives.
I think he does more for us than we could ever do for him!

X O X

a perfect weekend

It seems our lives are always going a million miles per hour. 

It is rare we get a weekend to do whatever we want.

However, living in Ogden has opened up weekends for us!

Recently, michael and I have been really stressed out and have really needed a break from all lifes stresses. That being the case, Michael planned out an A M A Z I N G date! 

He found a little playhouse in W A S H I N G T O N   T E R R A C E , 

and made plans to go see 4 2 n d   S T R E E T.

We were told that this show was absolutely amazing!

We definitely enjoyed it... but I would probably compare it to a play done by C V J H . 

I'm not trying to slam anything that has been done at Canyon View, but it would definitely be likened to a Jr. High play. 

The stage was small, the seats were old, and the cast was decent.

 W E   C A N T   W A I T   T O   G O   B A C K!

W E   W E N T   A   L I T T L E   C R A Y   C R A Y   

D U R I N G   I N T E R M I S S I O N!

Perhaps the best part of the whole evening was when the play was over...

Haha okay that sounds bad. It is true though, just not the way it may sound. 

We had an elderly couple sitting in front of us, with paper on the back of their chairs saying they were reserved... When they got up to leave, the old man put the taped paper on the back of his wife! 

Michael went to take the paper off, but the old man looked at Mike and just put his finger up to his lips, and winked at us!

Both of us  D I E D  laughing!

Saturday was spent running around trying to gather things for my crafting collection! 

We actually got to do a bit of crafting, and we are

  I N   L O V E   W I T H   H O W   I T   T U R N E D   O U T !

We bought the frame at Savers in Ogden for 10 bucks.

I wish we would have taken a picture of it, but it was just old wood, and was in pretty bad condition! Not to mention the picture in it was H I D E O U S!

Then, we bought the burlap at Hancock Fabrics, and the letters/paint at Michael's. 

It was just a matter of painting and attaching everything! I can't wait to get started on more projects to make our house a home!

Sunday was spent relaxing and enjoying our time together! 

Now on to a week of long work days!

Tomorrow will be 10 hours for me, 

and lots of extremely early mornings for Michael.

X O X 

self improvement

I do this blog for me. 
It keeps my thoughts and memories in order.
That being said, this post has a different tone:

Moving farther away from family and what I am comfortable with has seriously put me under a spell.
I have been having a hard time feeling motivated, being patiemt, and just haven't felt 100% for a while.

So instead of feeling sorry for myself,
I am going to put my big girl pants on and be the person my Michael deserves.

Working at a daycare can be tough.

A L L  D A Y  I get spit up on, snot rubbed on me, 

And on a really bad day, poop on me. 

Because of this, I have gotten into a habbit of wearing my grungy clothes to work. It is smart so I dont ruin my nice clothes, but I feel exactly how I dress! 

G R U N G Y

Since I am in the process of making some self improvements, this is where I start.

As silly as it sounds, how i dress effects my attitude toward everything. So, I will treat everyday like a date night. 

Sorry for the awkward "selfie" but I've

Got to stay motivated somehow!

I will work harder.
I will cook more.
I will clean cleaner.
&
I will be more Christ like.

So here is to turning over a new leaf. 

H E R E  I S   T O  A  B E T T E R  K A T I E. 

our 2nd home

Alright, Michael and I have officially settled into our new home here in West Haven, UT.

We are living at the S E T T L E R S   L A N D I N G   A P A R T M E N T S

& 

We are absolutely loving it!

Here are some pictures of our new home!

It isn't completely decorated, but when is a home ever finished being decorated??

This is our living room.

I am absolutely obsessed with this kitchen!

Thanks to this kitchen, I am F I N A L L Y motivated to cook for my husband! 

Look at how gorgeous it is!

We seriously just finished this piece of work here!

We found this frame at savers with the ugliest picture in it!

So we rescued the frame, added the burlap, and painted the letters!

Both of us love it!

We just added some key things to our bedroom and I am absolutely obsessed 

with how it turned out! Pictures do not even do it justice!

Welcome to our humble home!
B302

X O X

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

One of the many perks of being married to a Riding, is that I get to be involved in their many, many random/awesome/fun/outrageous/hilarious/unique parties!

That being said, this year, we spent Halloween trying something new.

Michael's brothers had this brilliant idea to have a Halloween Poetry reading.

One would come to the party dressed in costume, and read a poem about their costume.

It turned out to be such a fun way to spend Halloween!

As you can tell, all the poems turned out to be funny!

J U S T  A S  A  S I D E  N O T E: This one of the things I fell in love with quickly!

If any of you have heard Michael laugh, you know what I am talking about. 

When he really gets going, his laugh turns into more of a high pitched squeal, that he can't control! It seriously brings joy to my life and is absolutely contagious!

Michael worked really hard on our poem, and although we didn't in a prize, it was definitely my favorite! He thought out every line, and even made pictures to go with it!

One day he wants to put some work into the pictures and publish it for our family.

A R A C H N O F L O W B I A

T W A S   A   S U N N Y   A F T E R N O O N ,

N O T   A   T H I N G   T O   D O   B U T   T H I N K .

I   S T R A I N E D   M Y   M I N D  S O   D A R N   H A R D

I   C O U L D N ' T   E V E N   B L I N K !

W H O   A M   I ?   W H A T  A M   I ?   W H A T   W I LL  I   B E C O M E ?

' T I S   A   S T R O N G   G O S H   D A R N   C O N U D R U M , 

W H E R E   T H E S E   T H O U G H T S   W E R E   C O M I N G   F R O M .

M Y   F A T H E R : A   P E A S A N T ,  M Y   M O T H E R : R O Y A L ,

M Y   S I B L I N G S  C A M E   I N   W A V E S .

B O R N   O F    B O T H  B L O O D   L I N E S   

C A M E   F A R M E R S , W A R R I O R S , A N D   K N A V E S .

S O   W H A T   I S   I T ? 

I   T H O U G H T   T O   M Y S E L F   W I T H   M Y   E L B O W   U P O N   M Y   K N E E ,

A N   A N T ?  A   M A N T I S ?  A   C O C K R O A C H ? 

O R   M A Y B E   E V E N   A   B E E ?

N O ,  N O , N O !

  I   F U M E D ,  I   C A N ' T   B E   O N E   O F   T H E Y!

F O R   I F   I   W E R E ,  A N D   I   K N E W   I   W A S N ' T,

T H E N   T H E   R A I N   W O U L D   S W E E P   M E   A W A Y!

O H    W A I T ,  H O L D   O N , J U S T   A   M O M E N T , 

J U S T   A   M O M E N T   P L E A S E !

M Y   B R A I N   L I K E   M O V I N G   P I C T U R E S   I S 

P L A Y I N G   M Y   M E M O R I E S!

S O M E T H I N G   O F   A   D R A I N   P I P E

O R   A  G U T T E R   I   R E C A L L , 

C R A W L I N G   U P   I N   A   D E A F E N I N G   C U R R E N T

I   C O U L D N ' T   C L I M B   A T   A L L !

I T   W A S   D A R K ,  C O L D ,  A N D   W E T   

A N D   A F T E R   A   F E W   A T T E M P T S ,

I   L A Y   A T   T H E   B O T T O M  O F   I T S   M O U T H

T O T A L L Y   A N D   E X H A S T I N G L Y   S P E N T

I T   W A S N ' T   U N T I L   I   F E L T   T H E   W A R M

S U N L I G H T   U P O N   M Y   F A C E ,

I   L O O K E D   U P   A T   T H E   D A U N T I N G   P I P E

A N D   B E G A N   T H E   A S C E N D I N G   R A C E .

I   R E M E M B E R   N O W !

O H   Y E S   I   D O , W H Y   I   W A S   F L U S H E D   O U T ,

I   W A S   T R Y I N G   T O   C R A W L   U P   

A   R A I N Y   W A T E R   S P O U T!

S O   O U T   C A M E   T H E   S U N

A N D   D R I E D   U P   A L L   T H E   R A I N , 

A N D   M E : T H E  I T S Y   B I T S Y   S P I D E R

C R A W L E D   U P   T H E   S P O U T   A G A I N !

By: Michael Linley Riding