Our First Christmas-- with a few pictures

Well we got a new car... again.  Mazda 6 this time (2009).  Anton got a really good deal because it's the end of the year and all the dealerships want to get rid of as much inventory as possible.  And he got them to reupholster the seats and make them leather.

I tried to surprise him for Christmas but he figured out what I got him.  He surprised me, though.  Now I have lots of perfume, lots of nail polish and a shiny new purse.  He couldn't wait for Mom's present so we've already been using the orange blanket and bread-maker... actually I haven't made bread yet-- but I'm going to.  I have to finish un-cluttering our apartment first.  We're getting rid of clothes and stuff we don't use.  I can't feel good about cooking until everything is clean.  So basically we starve until the apartment sparkles (we don't actually starve).

Anton also decided we are going to start our own Christmas traditions-- stockings and presents at midnight Christmas Eve, which is then Christmas Day.  But he fell asleep so we didn't do it.  I did get some pictures though.

 This is Anton playing with the kitty... which you can't see.

 Holding his Curve, which he already knew.  I told him I don't like that smell and I would never buy it for him.  But he didn't believe me.

 The tree he cut down.

Just Kidding

   We're actually not getting our own house.  Anton received some counsel from his millionaire former sponsor and decided against the mobile home.  The interest was pretty high anyway.  I guess I can deal with listening to my neighbors's conversations and everything else, including the smell of what they cook, for a couple more years... : (

Got some more books in the mail.  I love my children's books.  I read them to myself because I don't have anyone else to read them to.  Someday...

Anton is such a big softy.  He says he will never feed this ridiculously spoiled cat ever again.  And then he lets the cat inside because the cat is cold and gives him little smokies and lets him eat our butter.  So we're out of butter now.

We came to a conclusion about our jobs.  I am going to quit mine and we'll get a loan to cover what I won't be making.  But he'll probably keep his job since we can't afford the benefits we get (like half of his school paid for and pretty good insurance) without it.  So after I quit I can get my homework done earlier, which means... I will have time to cook.  Yes, I am going to cook.  Hooraaaaaay!

I'm getting my own house! Yay!

I wrapped Anton's gun and told him he couldn't have it until it was under a decorated tree and we were drinking hot cocoa and eating cookies... and stuff like that.  So he got a tree permit, drove an hour away to cut down a tree (and an hour back), got some christmas decorations with me, cleaned the apartment, and put everything up by himself while I was at work.  I had no choice but to let him open it.  He was so excited, he went out shooting with his buddy the next morning and showed it off to his brother over skype.

Also we decided to buy a mobile home here because it would be cheaper than paying rent and a nice rest from having dummies for managers and landlords (which seem to be pretty much inescapable here).

Two of the ladies in my ward turned 100 years old last week.  Pretty awesome.

Anyway, we're figuring out that working while we're both full-time students is very, very stressful (partly because both of our jobs suck and there is way too much childishness and unnecessary drama going on that interferes with our regular lives).  So we're trying to decide what to do... just deal with it and live miserably for a few years, quit and live off of student loans, go somewhere else to work on our off-track and hope we make enough money to live for awhile... find a rich person to sue and live pretty for the rest of our lives (just kidding).

Okay, Annie, here you go.

Since Anton now has a green card and is about to get a hunting license... I think I might get him a gun for Christmas. He can't stop talking about guns.  He really, really wants a 12 gauge right now and he has a PELL grant coming soon (he applied for one right after he got a green card).  So you could get him some bullets if you want...?  Since my ears are pierced now, I like jewelry and stuff.  And books-- I'm really into buying children's books right now.

I probably can't visit for Christmas, though.  It depends on whether or not I can come for Thanksgiving.  Kmart is so stupid.  $7.25 an hour and they think they own me.  I threw as nice of a fit as I could when they said I can't get Thanksgiving off.  I told them this is the only holiday I have asked for time off for and that my family only gets together like this once or twice a year, and this year, it's for Thanksgiving.  They said they'll see, so I hope it works.  But if it does, I can't come for Christmas.

Other than my lame job, things are pretty good.  The snow was nice for the first night, but now it's too cold and I want it to go away.  Shantal got a little kitten... she is so cute!  I take her to my house and play with her all the time.  Anton LOVES her.  He plays with her instead of doing his homework.  She cuddles with us when we lay down to take a nap too.  And now we both really want a little kitten.

I'm glad I married young

So the green card interview went well.  It was pretty easy.  And kind of lame... I was a little disappointed when they didn't put us in different rooms, shine a bright light in our eyes, and ask us what color each others toothbrushes are... but that's okay.  They did ask Anton:  are you a terrorist?  Are you involved in any terrorist groups?  Have you ever killed anyone?  Have you ever imprisoned anyone?  Have you ever tortured anyone?  Are you violent?  Are you a communist?  I'm pretty sure he said no to all of them but my mind wandered a little.

Shantal's wedding was beautiful.  Anton had to leave to do school and work stuff, so I hung out with Grammy most of the time.  I miss Grammy.  And everyone else.  After I graduate I'm going to take road trips to visit family too.

I heard that school would get harder as I go, but I think it's getting easier.  Maybe I'm just taking easier classes (except Russian).  And classes I like better.

I am so tired of feeling so helpless and dumb in my Russian class-- I found the story we were reading by Pushkin online because I knew my computer would offer to translate it into English.  So I read it in English and then aced the in-class quiz... does that count as cheating?  I still read it all... and it didn't make sense in English either.  For the first story we read, my teacher told me I could find it in English.  So I assumed it was okay for this one too.  I think we're going to have to bring Anton's mother over here to be our nanny, because  my kids aren't going to learn very much from me.

I keep hearing talk about how dumb people are for getting married at 18 because it's WAY too young.  That they need to be ready for it first and date seriously for a long time to know they're making the right decision and a bunch of other crap.  Incidentally those who speak like they know so much about this are mostly single.  Well I'm not sorry I got married at 18 and only dated my husband for 2 weeks before we got engaged.  In fact, if I could go back and do it differently, I would have married him sooner--in November instead of February.  Age is not the most important factor in being ready (even if it does have a fairly significant influence), there are plenty of perfectly mature 18 year old people and plenty of perfectly immature 25 year old people.  And everyone else's love life is none of their business anyway.  I just wanted to get that off my chest.

I married an Alien

Our interview is on Tuesday!  Anton can't stop reminding me... I don't need him to... but he does.  It's funny.

What's not funny is how incredibly lame I am.  How am I going to be a mom if I can't even handle a few classes and a lousy job at the same time?  I don't like this.

Anyway...in my Psych class in high school, we did a section on dreams.  We had to keep a little "dream book" by our beds and write down what we dreamed about.  And we interpreted them-- I don't remember how, though.  I feel like I should keep a dream book by my bed again.  I keep having very bizarre dreams that I can't keep my mind off of, for a long time.  Four years, even.  Maybe if I write them down, I can forget them.

I can't wait to graduate and have my own house!  The couple above us is SO loud.  They fight all the time.  The woman is crazy-- she screams at the top of her lungs for hours.  Anton and I aren't the perfect couple that never fights, but I'm pretty sure we don't wake our neighbors up and make them listen to us scream at each other for the rest of the day.  And I do mean scream.
Sometimes I feel like going up there trying to help them... but that would be weird.

Baby Dreams

Went to Boise this weekend, helping Shantal with the wedding plans and stuff.  Got a dress for her-- very pretty.  Anton cleaned the whole house and had dinner ready for me when I got home.  Very pleasant surprise.  I should probably do that for him more often too.

The language wall finally hit me.  Pretty hard.  My class this semester is full of returned missionaries (Russian-speaking, of course) and I'm a lone little girl. The teacher speaks only in Russian and I have a lot of hard literature to read-- in Russian.  And I don't understand anything.  I don't want to do it anymore... it's too hard.

Anton's job is really bringing him down.  He feels yucky all the time and can't seem to get enough sleep, and I'm getting sick.  On the bright side, we go to Boise for the green card interview in two weeks.  We will be very happy to get this out of the way.  Unless they choose not to give Anton a green card.  That would suck.

I had a dream last night... all about babies.  Cutest babies I have ever seen.  I fell more and more in love with them all throughout my dream, and I want them.

When I was on fourth grade, I stapled my finger while making snowflakes.  I've had a scar there since then-- just a little hole where the staple went in.  And now that tiny hole filled up with clear skin and it hurts.  All the time.  What does that mean?

I feel so restless when it comes to my major.  I can't make up my mind because I feel like I would like something else better.  I changed it again... to Child Development.  Still minoring in Russian-- that seems to be the only thing I can stick with.

Special time of month came around (so I'm definitely not pregnant).  I felt like I needed something to make me feel better, layed eyes on a pack of Jello chocolate pudding and without hesitation, bought it.  I decided it's amazing.  I think this is not so good, though.  Pudding is not healthy and I already have enough problems with eating poorly.

Anton and I want to read books together.  We decided to do this like a month ago, but haven't started yet because we don't know what to read.  I wanted to ask him to read The Screwtape Letters with me but I'm afraid he won't understand it and that that will make him angry and not want to read anymore.  I found it difficult even, and I grew up speaking English.  But it's a really good book!

Also, you guys made me start blogging... why didn't you make Mom do it?  I think Mom needs to blog.

I want a baby too!

Went on a date with my husband today-- dinner and a movie.  We saw Green Lantern.  It was good...and for some reason I had a very strong urge to cry the last 5 minutes of it.  For no reason at all.  Normally I would mention that to Anton, in case I do start crying so he knows it's nothing to do with him, but since he's paranoid about me being pregnant right now, I thought it would be better not to.
Every little thing I say, "My stomach feels funny," "I'm tired," "I really want some juice," he turns ghost white, looks at my stomach, and says, "That's because you're pregnant."  And he's completely serious.
I do feel a little behind...
I'm excited we got all of our baby names though!  Unless we have more than 10 kids, then we'll have to think of some more.
I got a job with Kmart.  It's kinda fun.  I found some way cute bathroom themes.  Definitely redoing my bathroom.  I meet some pretty interesting people there too.  I think I'm going to keep it when school starts again so I'll have two jobs... and be a full-time student.  Ugh.
Changed my major... again.  It's Health Science now.  I have to take a million health classes anyway, so I figured I'd just make that my major.
P.S.  We recently found out that Rambo (the cat we befriended) is a spoiled rotten brat and he is no longer our friend.  We tried to feed him a slightly old hot dog, some leftover steak that was a little too rare for our liking, and some milk, but the only thing he would eat was the chicken Anton was cooking right then.  Lamest cat ever.

Rexburg for 3 more years... yuck!

Anton got the job!  He is now a supervisor at the school, which means instead of just a student employee he's a staff member.  So now we get health benefits plus half of his school is free.  That's the bright side... on the other hand, he gets home at 5 in the morning every night now (except Saturday and Sunday).  I think they want a 3-year commitment.  After two years, I get some school benefits too.

Also, we made a new friend.  Anton was doing the dishes and heard a meowing sound so he turned around and there was a cat standing in our kitchen.  I had left the door open because I was doing laundry. ( It was like 12:30 A.M.)  So we decided to feed him.  Hopefully, he comes back-- he made Anton pretty happy.  And we named him... Rambo.  Okay, Anton named him Rambo.

I've gotten into the habit of nightly walks.  I live pretty close to the park so I walk around town and then come back to the park and swing.  Anton makes me take pepper spray with me.  Haven't had to use it yet, though.

Hmmm, school.  I am seriously contemplating just quitting and getting a full-time job instead.  I do like to learn... but I don't like homework.  Why can't we just have classes and tests?  No homework in between.  I wonder sometimes if it's really worth it.


On the other hand, I don't think I can get a better deal than the one I have as far as education goes-- government pays my tuition, which is pretty inexpensive anyway.  The teachers are great and really care about me.  It's a very pleasant atmosphere.  I think I'm just jealous of Anton.  He works so hard and he's so stinkin' smart!  I'm smart too, really I am.  It just hides away when I need it most.


Anton saw a thing on TV where a woman and her husband wanted to have twins, so they went to the doctor and he took what he needed, made identical boy twins for them, and put them back inside of her.  He's always wanted me to have twins and now that he knows there's a way to guarantee it, he is convinced we will have twins-- or quadruplets because there is a slight chance that the eggs will split again and you could end up with four kids instead of two.  I'm a little afraid.  But I would like twins, I think.


Now he's making his Ukrainian soup.  It's SO good!  Ukrainians make some pretty... different dishes but the soup is to die for!

My husband the cook.

Anton decided to take some pictures of me too.

New is Exciting

I got a new job!  My old one had some dishonesty going on and supervisors with major power-hungry issues so I left them.  Now I work with the food services department at the university.  Blekh.  I hate the smell of food places.  But it's better than not having a job.
Oh, how I love the sunshine.  Sunshine makes people happier.
Registered for new classes next semester, I have to take a million health classes because my emphasis is Health Science.  I like health classes, I learn so many helpful things.  I care more about eating healthier now too.
Things have been good lately.  New apartment, new jobs, new classes.  It's refreshing.  Except when Anton brings one his fishes home.  Then it smells like fish (he got a big, fat, 2-footer today).
Also, I decided to try something else new today.  I went to Olive Garden (which is pretty new for me) and did not get ranch dressing on my salad-- or on anything.  I really liked it (the food).  The salad was good, the dressing tasted great, their cheese is amazing, and I think I'll go back again.

P.S.  Something not so new... I moved to a new ward and at church on Sunday, someone leans over to me and says, "Hey, are you Jeri's little sister?"  Thought I'd outgrow that someday.  Apparently not.  It was Carly, by the way, used to be McPherson, I think.

Hooray for funny old people

Went to an Assisted Living facility yesterday to apply to be assistant managers there (they have 7 patrons, they're Dementia patients).  The interview went pretty well, but my favorite part was talking to the old guys.
The talkative one was very deaf and changed the subject every time I asked how old he is (which someone told me to do), "Well anyway..." and then he would talk about something else.  There was another one who glared at the current assistant manager every time he stopped him and asked where he was going (as he headed for the door), and finally declared, "Home!"  I later saw him sneaking, one slow, clever step at a time, toward the door again... in a wheelchair.  He used his feet to move the wheelchair.  Incredibly funny to watch.

Russian class is coming along great.  Now I just have to learn what all the words mean.  And how to say them.
I love my weight training class with Anton.  I feel so much better now that I work out again.  My pants finally fit me, I have way more energy, and I'm getting back up to a healthier weight in so I can have little baby Antons runnin' around.

Blog... reminds me of Frog

Well, this should be fun... it's like a diary on the internet.  I don't have a camera (except on Anton's phone) so... sorry, no pictures.  Lame, right?  Now you don't even want to read this, probably.
Okay.  First blog, what do I say?  My name is Erica, I'm 5'2", I have brown hair and I'm married to a Ukrainian.  He's pretty cool.
Oh, yeah, the word blog makes me think of frog, so I picture the color green.  Somehow orange just doesn't seem right.
I think that's all. So... laytah, gaytah.