KAMIKAZI

On the second day of the year, Kurt and I drove to Twin Falls, Idaho to pick up what we have been so patiently waiting for, Kazi, our dog. She is a wired hair fox terrier and was 2 months old at the time. A friend of ours told us about those kinds of dogs and Kurt would stay up half the night researching them and finding everything out about them and just fell in love. They are a little more rare on the western side of the states, but luckily we were able to find one a little bit closer, Idaho. She is the runt of the litter and is so loving. We did have a rough drive home from Idaho. Here she was with new people who just wanted to love and hold her. What we didn't know was that she had eaten some leather thing previously and threw it up in our car. ewe. But we still kept her. The first night we had her, she was fine sleeping in a cage, but after that, she would not have it. So ever since, we have spoiled her and let her sleep in our bed with us.

The ride home

She loved the basket more than her bed we got her. 

Her official bed now

It was really nice getting her at 2 months olds, because she was sort of a little potty trained. We still had a few accidents and still do here and there, but she is doing so good at running to the door when she needs to go outside. Since she is a puppy, she is getting teeth in, which means she is teething! And wanting to bite everything! Other than that, she is an angel and we love when she sleeps! 

Another thing that we think is so fun, is going to PetSmart! While we were waiting for her, we went to PetSmart and got her some food bowls, treats, and a squeaky monkey. She didn't like that as much because it was really big. So later we went and got her a Llama that can fit in her mouth and she can squeak it herself. 

She really seems to like it here, because she has so many friends to play with. At first, she was really scared of Sugar, the lab, but now she loves her and thinks she is bigger than her. I don't know what Sugar thinks, but she is really good with her. 

Her new friend, Sugar

Some funny things about her: she runs like a bullet if ever anything is dropped in the kitchen. At night, she will lick Kurt's face to get his head of his pillow and then she will move right in and plant herself right where his head was. 

Happenings

A few things have happened since I last posted.
1. The week before Christmas, Kurt and I were able to attend his cousins wedding in Arizona. It was gorgeous down there for that time of year. It was a long drive to say the least, but we had fun with mom and dad gardner, Nichole, and Braylee. It was cool to see the Mesa Temple and be apart of the sealing. It was really pretty and it was fun to meet all of Kurt's cousins that I've never really met.

2. CHRISTMAS! Christmas last year was held at the Gardner home, and everyone came! It was really exciting because I got to experience a new kind of Christmas, one without my family. I love Kurt's family and just hearing some of their traditions made me excited! The Pajama Elf comes every Christmas Eve and brings pajamas! And of course pictures are taken. But before that, we all went to Outback Steakhouse and ate some yummy dinner! It was a lot of fun because all of his brothers and sister and families were there and I think there was only one other time before we got married that everyone was in town. It was a wonderful Christmas day.

3. The week after Christmas was a busy one! We had A LOT of packing to do before Friday. Luckily his brothers were there to help load some boxes and a dresser. It was surprising though to see how little stuff we had. I was expecting a lot more boxes. The rough part was just packing. It was so weird to see the apartment empty and with nothing on its walls. We got to Draper on Friday and unpacked everything that night with the help of his dad and brother. For New Years Eve, we were kind of lame and hung out with my sister and her friends, who are still in high school. We played games and did some lantern lighting.

4. School has started. Kurt is taking 12 credits and I am taking 13. The campus is so big! Luckily the buildings we have our classes in are in the same area. It is nothing like Dixie. No matter what time of day it is, there are tons of people all over the place. And the library! Holy Cow! Never seen a nicer library. I feel like I could get lost in there. Combine all of the computers they have at Dixie and that's how many you get at the library. Even though it feels like there is never one open when you go in there. I have yet to explore the basement, and the 5th and 6th floors! Anyway we are enjoying life here, just can't wait till it gets a little better weather.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to get work off and travel up north and spend the holiday with my family. We had the whole day Wednesday, which was my brother's birthday and all day Thursday. On Thursday morning, a bunch of my family ran the 5k Utah Human Race. We had to be there at 7 am. It was freezing. We cut Kurt's hair the night before to make him look like a Turkey. He sure did run like a Turkey with 23 minutes as his time. There was no way I was going to keep up with him. My mom attempted but soon lost him. I tried to keep up with my brothers the whole time, I think I did pretty good with that. It was a great feeling to know that we ran 3 miles so we didn't feel so yucky when we ate a lot of food. 

My mom and I finished my Christmas candy countdown box. Last year I only had the box, so I made her help me with it while I was there since I wouldn't see them until after Christmas. Kurt had to be back at work on black Friday by 2, so I decided to decorate the house! On Saturday when Kurt did't have work, we put up our tree! We are so excited. I think Kurt more so because he gets to have Christmas with his whole family and he has not had that since before his mission. He is like a little kid. But i love him! We also did a fun little project, we had this pooping moose and we decided to paint him like one of the moose's in park city. I think Kurt did a pretty good job with the design.

Goodbye Dixie

Well it's official, Kurt and I are moving away from St. George. Say goodbye to warm weather in November, goodbye to traffic free freeways, goodbye to Gardner family. Say hello to freezing weather, sit in one spot hour traffic, and hello Mikkelson family. Yep we are moving to Salt Lake City to go to the University of Utah starting January. Kurt is finishing up his associates this December and wants to start the business program at the U. Dixie does not have a marketing program and we needed a school that does. We are both really excited about the move but also a little nervous for the change. It is always such a hassle to find jobs and such, but guess that is the fun in life. It's been a good year here in St. George, and we are going to miss it and the friends that we have made. But more fun and friends are sure to come.

Save a Sister

Two weeks ago, I signed Kurt and I up for the save a sister 10k run. We thought oh it's only 6 miles, we will be able to train ourselves for that, no big deal. Well in those 2 weeks, we didn't run much. The most that we ran in a day was 4 miles. and I think total, we ran like 3 times in those 2 weeks. So we were just hoping it was not going to kill us. I mean 6 miles is not too bad compared to like 13. It was actually a really cool experience though. Before they started it, they gave people some balloons and had a moment of silence for those who have breast cancer and those who did not make it, then let the balloons go. The course we ran was not the easiest. It was like a roller coaster, going up hill and down hill. We definitely did not ready ourselves for that part. That was probably the most challenging part was just making it up the hills. But we made it! Our time was 54 minutes. Not too bad for not really being in shape at all. They had prizes for all of those in the different age groups. We had to wait for them to announce the the 5k runners first. (Which took forever) Kurt took 1st place in his age group for males and won a free something at Orange Peel and $20 off at the running center and I got 2nd in my age group for females. We were sort of surprised and shocked. It was a fun run though and for a good cause. Whipped us a little bit more in shape than we were before.

Year 1, More to Come

 Some of our really good friends got married in the Salt Lake Temple the day before our anniversary. And we had the privilege to attend their sealing. Turns out they got married in the same exact room we did. So it was really cool because we haven't been back since, and we got to be on the other side of the the sealing part. Our whole day was consumed in wedding stuff. We stayed for pictures, went to the luncheon and then the reception that night, decorating the car, and the goodbye, and of course clean up. We are so happy for them!

The Groom and his Men

Saturday was our one year anniversary! Not only was it just that, it was my grandma's 71st birthday, so we decided to make crepes for my whole family. They were so delicious and so easy to make. I am so glad that we can share that special day with my grandma.  We had the whole day to do whatever we want....and we went running. It was actually really good because those crepes made me so stuffed. For lunch, we met up with my brother and ate at some mexican place in Lehi. It was delicious. 

For the rest of the day, we went shopping! At the fashion place mall. That place has changed so much and is so big now! 

Prob went into diabetic shock after that. 

Eating our cake. It wasn't actually too bad. My mom ended up eating more than we did.

For our anniversary, we got a room at the Anniversary Inn. We stayed in the Swiss Robinson room, which was really cool. We liked it. We ate at Tucanos Brazillian Grill at the Gateway. We may have eaten too much there, not mentioning our creme brulee. Afterwards, we met up with Chris and Kelsey, yes the ones that got married the night before. They were staying somewhere close to Gateway. And we just looked around at the shops with them, after interrupting their dinner first. I think we spent like an hour at Urban Outfitters reading books. 

Of course that night we had to watch How to Train your Dragon because it came out on our wedding day and watched it like 3 times on our honeymoon, so now we are making it a tradition to watch it every year on our anniversary. 

Bed in a Treehouse. 

They gave us a delicious free breakfast...in bed. 

Nemo

The stairs to our bed. 

It has been such a wonderful year spent with the most wonderful husband. We have accomplished so much just within a year and have had so many memories. It's been great being married and 10 things that I LOVE about Kurt is:

1. He makes me laugh ALL the time. 

2. He compliments me all the time and makes me feel like I am as gorgeous as Jessica Alba.

3. he is my own personal heater. 

4. He always gives me back, feet, and leg massages. 

5. He is very patient with me

6. He is still a little kid at heart and is goofy all the time. 

7. Loves to cook, when he has the time. 

8. He is a very hard worker 

9. He is not afraid to let the world know that he loves me. 

10. He enjoys running with me and I am glad that we can share that hobby together. 

These are just a few, there are PLENTY more. 

As Of Lately

School has started and we are already at the mid point! How fast time flies. Kurt and I are both enrolled as full time students, not mentioning we are still working. Kurt is working on getting his associates by this December. Woo-hoo you go dear. :) And I am working on my psychology degree. School is definitely kicking both of our butts. Kurt has school in the morning and work in the evening, while I am just the opposite, work in the morning and school in the afternoon. So every little bit of time we have together, we take full advantage.
This last week I was able to attend one of my good friends wedding up north in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a rainy day, but it was so wonderful. It took me back to when Kurt and I got married and just how happy we were that the day finally came that we got to be married for time and all eternity. It was too quick of a trip though, way too much driving within 24 hours.

Yesterday Kurt and I also had the opportunity to attend a friend's endownment session. I always love going to those and seeing someone I know experience that. Later that night we made halloween cookies and had a great time. We love when we can take time away from our homework and just hang out with our friends.