Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to me! I have now been in America for 5 years. Look at me go.

I moved to America at the beginning of September 5 years ago, into my far-too-small dorm-room at David-John Hall. Much has changed since then, but it has been a wonderful 5 years. So to celebrate I have dedicated the whole of September to my anniversary (think of me what you will.)

So far to celebrate we have been country dancing. We had lessons beforehand from an old G-pa Cowboy. We quickly became friends and he started using me in all the demos. He liked to come around and critique us as we were dancing. Apparently I bob around too much. He suggested I keep my upper body still and take smaller steps; "save some energy for when you get home."

We also went out for some good old American BBQ, at a small whole in the wall known as Stacey's. It has been voted number 1

BBQ in Phoenix, and I now understand why. Nothing like good ol' fashioned smoked BBQ ribs, served to you by someone with a hic accent to let you know your in America.

To accompany the celebrations I have been increasing my American knowledge by reading about Abraham Lincoln. My knowledge on America is somewhat embarrassing. I also plan on being able to label a map of America before the month is out.

Since we are only half way through September there is still plenty more time for celebration. I just need to think of more American activities....Ameritivties?

(ps. I still love England, as is evident by my past costumes for halloween.)

Spot The Difference

Kevin and I went for a bike ride with Sean (Kevin's cousin-in-law) on monday, the difference between biking in Arizona and Utah was HUGE!

Can you spot all the differences?

1. No dad in Arizona

2. Kevin's and my outfits don't match

3. My jersey, well Kevin's, is way too big (hint hint, Dad)

4. Lush green v. desert waste land.

5. Cacti! If you look carefully you can see them in the background, they were everywhere!

6. I had to carry my own backpack with Kevin!

7. Kevin is sporting his Cougar pride (he actually got a few comments from fellow riders)

8. There are clouds in Utah!

As fun as it was, 20 miles in the super heat isn't necessarily my first choice to spend a holiday. Maybe next time only 10 miles?

"Yes Master"

Kevin was accepted into the Southern Utah University Masters program for Exercise Science and Conditioning!

Everyone should start preparing themselves now, as Kevin has requested that once he graduates to be referred to as "master." Apparently if you become a graduate student you are ranked up there with Major Nelson.

SUU is the home of the T-birds, which means Kevin has gone from a proud BYU Cougar to:

or if you are/were a nerd and grew up in England one of these:

Either way he now has a halloween costume for life!

You are all invited to Kevin's graduation, which will be held in Cedar City, hopefully in the summer of 2012, where Kevin will receive his "hoodie" (or more commonly known as a hood.) Hope to see you there!

The Grand Canyon State

We have moved from what claims to be a desert to what really is a desert....Utah is a lush beauty of green compared to Arizona!It took us 12 hours to drive from SLC to Phoenix, and this is what I got to stare out for 12 hours, the back of our U-Haul. And when I wanted a break from that I got to look at this: 

Thankfully to make the journey a bit more enjoyable Kevy and I had walkie-talkies, and with code names such as Rubber Ducky and Foxy Loxy how could we not have fun?

It may be 105 degrees today ....and for the rest of the month ....and quite possibly all of next month. But I shall be having the last laugh come November and still wearing shorts while you are bundled in everything you own!!! Except if you happen to live in Arizona or maybe Texas and actually Florida too....But for all you others HAHAHAHAHA

Final Countdown

With our last week in Utah coming to an end, things have been somewhat hectic. However we have still managed to do one or two things. For example, we both finally graduated:

To celebrate our graduation we had two parties. A "Nicole Party" and a "Kevin Party". For my party I requested we spend the day at a water park, which was hydrotastic! Kevin's party of course centered around food, and lots of it. I think my party was better, especially as I got to wear this!

My final request before we left Utah was to go down the Alpine Slide. I like to think it was symbolic of how we are sliding from one phase of our life right into a new one. You don't know what is coming around the next corner, it takes a lot of effort to move forward (the sleds were actually really hard to control), blink and you miss everything happening around you. 

The Converse Club - cool kids only

"Tour"ture de Midway

After a week of training a new lady at work, packing for the move and studying for my last final, my dad decided what I need was a bike ride! My dad is a very "focused" (read intense) bike rider. He took my Uncle Steve and I up by Cascade Springs in Midway, which was very pretty but only had two gradients: straight up or straight down! 

Call me crazy, but I have never been a fan of spandex, but my mum told me that I should really wear the padded bike shorts. I'm so glad I did, otherwise my poor bottom would be super sore today (versus just sore!) 

As fun as it was, I'm thinking next time I would rather have a ski lift take me to the top and I'll just ride down....

We found some pretty deep puddles (I chose to avoid this one)

I don't like getting my feet wet!

The only sunglasses I could find were Kevin's. I choose to think I look ravishing in them, and not that they made me look like I have a big nose and a wonky head. 

At Long Last

My family has finally arrived! This is the longest I have ever gone without seeing my family... 7 months, thankfully Kevin took good care of me while we were apart. 

Kevin and I took the little girls miniature golfing. Miniature golfing is not really the "done" thing in England, in fact, I don't even know where a miniature golf course is in England. So although we British girls may not be the best at putt-putt, we sure look good doing it!