New Blog...

So we have decided to move our blog to a new location...

http://jirafasenamoradas.blogspot.com/

Please join us :)

The snow is melting!!

As all of you know, I am not a fan of winter, below zero temps, or driving in snowy/icy conditions. I do love winter clothes (i.e. a great scarf, a cute sweater, and a great pair of boots). However, I can tell you that I am BEYOND ready for spring to arrive. This last week we had a teaser day with 68 degree temps, a refreshing breeze, and blue skies. It really was exactly what I needed and just made me more excited for the day when the grass is green, the birds are singing, and the flowers are blooming. It's coming... and this girl is ready and waiting :)

The real reason someone wants to buy a new car...

Things I am excited about...

.... the new babies in our lives... they are not ours but we LOVE THEM!!!

.... the start of a new semester... even though it means we will be busier

.... our new gym membership and my pilates class

.... my new slippers that look like shoes so I get to wear them to work

.... the fact that I have FINALLY organized our back room

.... girls weekend with one of my favorite ladies

....Jordan's school-free Mondays

.... my plane tickets to Italy

.... a happy, calm, and healthy 2011

Yummy Holiday Goodies

When I was little, my mom made decorating cookies a really big deal and I think that is why it is my favorite part of the Christmas season. She would let us help bake the cookies and cut out the shapes. Then, when the cookies were baked and cool, she would let us help decorate. On the kitchen counter there would be little dishes filled with colored frosting, sprinkles, and candies. I think we ended up with more frosting on us than on the cookies but each of our cookie creations showed a little bit of our personality and style.

This year was the first year that I have made my own Christmas cookies. I was lucky enough that my mom came over to help me bake them and Jordan helped me frost them. I learned that we have very different decorating style! Jordan is a bit more creative than I am... i.e. a tye-dye Christmas tree. But, it has never been the cookies alone that I love, its the fun of being with the people I love decorating them.

Now, we get to share our yummy holiday goodies with friends and family at the upcoming holiday celebrations.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas has always and always will be my favorite time of the year!! I just love all of the happy people, fun movies, and delicious cookies. What a fun way to celebrate the birth of Jesus!! I also LOVE that there are entire radio stations dedicated to Christmas music!! Who wouldn't like to drive down the road blasting the classics!! Luckily, both of our mom's also loved Christmas so our apartment naturally looks like a cozy winter wonderland :)

P.S. We are officially settled in our new apartment, we celebrated our 6 month anniversary, I LOVE my new job, and we got to meet one of the sweetest newborns ever last night!

We're moving... again

Believe it or not, two avid Hawkeyes are moving to Cyclone country. I (Kate) have accepted a position as a hall director at Iowa State and am super excited to get back to working with students. Not that I have not enjoyed my current job but this opportunity will give me a chance to really utilize my talents and education. Jordan is also excited because this means he won't have to drive to Ames two nights a week to teach... now he will have to do it everyday :) That is actually a VERY positive thing in our world because we think this new arrangement will make our nights less stressful and will give us more time together.

I am also really excited to get to decorate another apartment! I feel like our current place is my practice run for our next apartment. At least, that is what I am telling myself so that I don't go crazy thinking about moving again. AHH!! We will be pros at this soon I'm sure. How many other couples get to move 3 times in their first 6 months of marriage???