pink things

There is nothing better than getting pink things in the mail! Pink things just make the world look better!
Thank you mom! I'm going to be the coolest girl in school now. Everyone is going to be so jealous. I love them!

camping....sort of

Saturday when I stepped outside it was amazing out! I couldn't believe how incredibly warm it was! Everyone had their awnings out on their stores and items for sale out on the side walks. There were people riding their bikes, walking their dogs, taking a jog and just enjoying the day.
I had an interview at a bagel place at 12:45 and when I got back I was racking my overloaded brain, trying to figure out something we could do for the weekend that would get us out of our apartment.
Jason's phone rang at just that moment and on the other end was his uncle Gene inviting us to come down to their property. I was already telling Jason to say yes before he had asked us if we wanted to come! We packed our stuff and filled the car up with gas (man...is that a depressing feat) and headed on our way.
It only takes an hour and a half to get there so it was a nice short drive (compared to most of our road trips.) It is so beautiful there. It's right on Lake Michigan with lots of sand and woods all around. It was so nice to be able to be out doors, sleep in a tent, and be able to sit around a campfire and grill good food.
Jason's family is so great! I am very lucky to have an extended family that has taken me under their wing as their own. Thank you for having us "down"! We had a great time.

On a side note: I am completely done with my baby Quist quilt. I just have to wash it. I am so excited about how it turned out. Linda: I'm not going to post any pictures, you will get to see it at your shower! You're going to LOVE it though, and so will Laney!

a night in Marquette

finally some pictures...and a very looooong post

As most of you know Jason and I were able to go home this weekend and spend some much needed time with our wonderful families.

It was so great to be home and soak in all of the love. As always though, it seemed like there wasn't enough time, there is never enough time when we go home.

I feel like we got a lot done, even with the limited time.
On Friday night when we got home my parents picked me up and we went line dancing at the place where my sister Andrea's boyfriend teaches line dancing. I went home with my sister and her boyfriend at the end of the night. I love my little sister and I am so glad I got to spend time with her. I'm so glad we're friends now.
On Saturday I went to Andrea's and she made my hair look pretty again! Yay, good hair, finally! (and I swear I will not dye my hair from a box EVER again!) After that I ran over to discount tire to get the tire from my car replaced. Another good thing! No more driving around on a spare tire!
Then it was to Steve and Amber's to see my precious niece. I loved it, she went crazy running up and down the hallway and screaming and laughing, making me chase her. She was so glad to see her Aunt Stacey! Her mom loved it as well. A little while later Jacob and Linda came over and I got to see her big pregnant belly! She is due in June! Very, very soon there will be a little baby Quist!
Linda, Amber and I went to the fabric store to buy the prettiest pink fabric for the back of the baby quilt, and then we picked up Chicken and Egg Roll for dinner. We hung out for the rest of the night and I went home to get some beauty rest.
Sunday morning I woke up and had coffee with my in-laws and then we headed over to my parents house for the best brunch ever! Both Jason and my families were there. It was so good to have everyone in the same place. My mom made the most wonderful meal! Thank you mom and dad for having us over and making great food!
After lunch I went to Costco with my Debby and I spent some of her hard earned money for some essentials! Thank you for feeding us!
For dinner my cousin Tashina, who is home from Honduras for a couple of months came over and we spent a good part of the night talking. Thank you for coming over Tash. It's been a long time, but some things never change.
Monday morning we were off on the road again.
I know most of the pictures below are of Emily, but I wanted to be able to talk with everyone instead of hanging back and taking pictures. Hopefully we'll be home soon! I'm sorry to everyone we weren't able to see and to the ones that we did get to spend time with, I'm sorry that the time was so short. We love you.

I love this picture. She is getting so big!

We were teaching her how to throw sticks into the creek at my parents.

Denny, Emily and her dad Steve, 3 generations.

Andrea and her boyfriend, Tim. (sorry that's the best smile I could get him to give me)

Steve and Emily. It was her first time seeing real chickens.

My 25 year old cousin Katie on the tire swing! I love it!

What a cutie!

home sweet home

I'm going home today!!!! It's been since Christmas and I am just crazy about seeing my family! I can't wait! Sorry about the lack of postings, it's been a crazy week. I had my physiology test yesterday and 2 labs also. Today I have my chemistry lab that I designed and right after it, my chemistry test. AHHHHH. So...coming home will be a great treat! See you soon.

p.s. Samara, I did not fall off the face of the earth, I am doing fine, thank you so much for worrying! :)

Lent Reflections

The TV is back on, but on a much more limited basis. I would much rather put my ipod on shuffle or sit in silence than have the TV on constantly. I realized what a huge waste of my time it was. Well, I knew it I just wasn't doing anything about it. This quilt was one of the things that came out of not watching TV. I started cutting the fabric for this baby quilt the day Lent started. I then sewed each piece of the curvy parts by hand and then yesterday I machine sewed all of the pieces together. I couldn't be happier! It looks great I can't wait to see what it will look like finished.
Last night we had Easter dinner at our apartment. We had 10 people over including Jason and I and everyone brought something different. The food was so good, I was very impressed with all the things that were brought. We had good wine, good food, and good company. It was nice to be able to get together with our new friends and have a "family dinner."
I hope that everyone had a blessed weekend with their families or substitute families.

only in da yoo pee

Only in Marquette could you see two grown adults on a wednesday night walking down the beach with ski goggles on in 30 mph winds.

The last picture is of the snow blowing across the sand.

Oh and for your enjoyment I took them in sepia colored so that you could enjoy the world the way we saw it tonight through our rose colored goggles. :)

snow day

Yes, you heard right, we had classes cancelled today because of bad weather!

It was just like when I was a little kid except that instead of my mom, it was jason leaning over me right before my alarm clock was going to go off and saying "honey, you're never gonna believe it, but they cancelled classes today." So I did the only sane and rational thing, and that was to roll over shut off my alarm clocks (i have two) and sleep until my heart's desire!

You wouldn't believe it here. It hasn't even snowed that much, but last night it was raining and sleeting and then the roads froze. Today we had 35 mph winds and snow blowing right along with it. And now it is white out conditions, and doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon! (is 2 snow days in a row too much to ask, wish, hope for?)

With hazardous weather comes the few crazy people that decide that they need to drive around in it. Me, being one of them. I had planned on filling out a few more applications today and dropping off tests that I had taken for the City of Marquette (to be considered for a job there) So I got in my car and bravely took off (spare tire and all)

I made it to the gas station and proceeded to freeze my hands off.
I had to wait for my hands to unthaw in order to pay.

I made it down the VERY steep hill downtown and didn't slide through the intersection.

I got to the city building and skipped through the snow drifts to the door, and was told that I would be given extra credit for coming out in a blizzard (oh don't i wish that were true)

I made it to family video, rented 4 movies and then decided against going anywhere other than to my safe and warm apartment.

Now I am in my nice cozy apartment listening to the wind blow and waiting for the pizza man. (he is going to get a BIG tip!)

Side note: If you ever feel inclined to drive in white out conditions, PLEASE do everyone including yourself a big favor and TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS! And don't ride a bicycle in weather like this (I saw the tire marks.)

Seriously it's a different world up here in more ways than you can imagine.

I quit my job

(i have written and deleted this post a couple of times now, so i will spare all of the details and get the core of why i quit)

Yesterday I quit my job or rather gave my 2 week notice. (don't worry I didn't just walk out)
Jason and I have come to the conclusion that work or a job should not deter us from doing the things we love most and the things that bring us the most joy. And for a while now, my job has been sucking the life out of me. I don't mind working weekends. Hey I'm a college student and it's something I should expect, but I also live 8 hours away from my precious family and I have had to sacrifice my happiness and well being for the sake of a JOB that requires me to work every single weekend without fail.
Well not anymore.
I tried to see if we (we being me and my employer) could work something out with my schedule, but that wasn't going to happen. I knew nothing would change, but I had to try. I had to give them the chance to try. I didn't want to walk out of there saying that I didn't give them a chance.
For me this means two things.
1) I get to come home next weekend (april 13-16ish) YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2) I need to find a new job. I hate job hunting, but ah, life goes on and the bills are still due at the same times every month, so I will look for a job.
I don't like to quit anything, I feel like I'm giving up, like I didn't try hard enough and that I'm letting my co-workers down. But for Jason and I this was the best decision for me and for us and I do not have a heavy heart about it. I just know there is something that will fit my schedule better, even if I have to work at McDonalds...(just kidding, only as a last resort) A job no matter how essential to sustaining life as I know it will never again shape and sway the decisions that Jason and I make as a family.

I have a light heart now knowing that I will get to see most of my family's shining faces.