Mini Vacation

I thought about starting this blog off exactly like my previous two by saying that The Cook Household has wrapped up another busy busy week-but I'm not going to do that :).


I'll go with this instead:


Seth and I had a very uneventful-relaxing-cozy mini vacation this past weekend (after a super busy week-of course!).  We house-sat or rather dog-sat and it was a very lovely weekend.  We stayed in a beautiful home and played house-or thats what I like to think of it as :).  Hardly any technology (no computers-little cell phone access-no Television)-No Schoolwork or Work of any other sorts-No thoughts of what we STILL need to do to spruce up our apartment--Just complete 100 percent Seth and Erika time.  Whooooaah folks--some of you think 'hey they have that time daily'--we Actually do to be honest.  But we both may be on different pages at times-I want to watch TV and he has schoolwork-or I have to cook and he wants to read a book-or I'm blogging or looking up recipes and don't feel like washing the dishes so he does, etc etc...This weekend we were able to read at the same time-talk to each other-design our own house :)-cook and clean together-have a dog to play with-have a little date-play different games-be out of our own daily elements.  Anywho it was a great weekend and we enjoyed cooking in a kitchen three times the size of ours :).


Seth and I taught our first children's church this past Sunday.  You can definitely tell we haven't had tons of experience with children-but I think we will be able to balance each other out.  I want children to listen and things to be in order-Seth is more relaxed and a go with the flow type of guy.  I need to remember that kids are kids who have energy and can be busybodies-whereas Seth needs to remember that he has to be assertive at times (when the kids are rolling down the stairs wrestling!).  We definitely will have a few changes for the next week we teach-but overall I'm looking forward to doing it :).


-The church we are now is Alpine-Logan-previously Maranatha.  I thought some of you may be interested in going online and looking around the website and seeing where Seth and I are attending-  http://www.alpinechurch.org/


A few fun facts:


1) Seth has gone skiing tonight with one of our buddies.  He was very excited to go and try it out for the first time-especially with Trevor coming in a few weeks.  Secretively I think Seth is going to try and 'outski' Trevor when they come-so just watch out T.  I also thinks he is going to try to sneak in a Rball game and try to dominate there when you are here :).  Which brings me to another Fun Fact.


2) Seth has already received part of his Valentine's day gift.  He got a Rball glove and some new tennis shoes to play in.  He is extremely into it and a Rball nut (I abbreviate b/c I never can spell it right-It's Rachetball-just spelled differently).  He plays about 4 times a week with different folks-but mind you all of this is for 'my' good.  He tells me that he is doing this so he can stay in shape for me......  I have asked for a massage for my Valentine's day gift--hinted, pointed a few places out, explained that he wouldn't have to give me a massage on his own for a while--Let's see what happens :).  My buddy Laurie will be taking us out for our Valentine/6 Month Anniversary Dinner--so thanks Joseph and Laurie (it was a birthday giftcard folks to a nice place called Hamilton's that we have saved for that specific occasion).


3) The Beard and Mustache Society is underway and definitely an OFFICIAL club or organization at Utah State University.  Seth is a 'co-founder'-'vice president' part of the organization-and I'm thinking that this will be getting pretty intense in the months to come.


4) Gina and I have had small discussions about our 'Women Cooking Club' and that is a definitely going to be a go.  So Gina and I will also be 'co-founders' of a cool club :)-I actually just got the idea of a Carolina Cooking Club-Gina and I will discuss and will take further action.


5) We received a very nice package from Seth's parents today-with some pound cake.  I have to say that this hit the spot tonight when I had a few bites-but after thinking about it.  This pound cake was cooked in South CArolina-wrapped up-shipped over several days-hung out in the post office another day or so-arrived in my home.......and was BETTTTTTER than the FRESH pound cakes that I've made here.  I'm very happy that I had my pound cake tastebuds satisfied-but how sad is my pound cake story?  Well from now on when I offer to make a pound cake for any event I will definitely call up my Mother-in-Law and have her ship me a delicious one :).  Thanks!


AAAAhhhhh--Olivia and Brian will be here in 4 days :)!  So pumped up and thrilled to spend time with them and show them around!  I've given up working out for the next two weeks (I think) so I can come home and clean a different room daily so it is spotless (hopefully).  I'm also still working out our menu for when they are here-there are so many things I want to cook for them that I'm having a hard time finalizing it!


Currently I'm reading The Renovation that a friend of mine let me borrow by Terri Kraus-and it is really good thusfar.  I'm also reading Walking with God by John Eldredge that Ashley mailed me :)


Hope everyone has a great week!

The Cook's :).

Another Week Down.

Another busy week and weekend has flown by in the Cook home-but discussion between Seth and I have concluded that being busy means WE have a life.  Us-Seth and Erika-The Cook's-have our own busy and fun filled life of our very own together--and we both like the idea of this.  Also with one week down and another getting started only brings us closer to having our family in town!  After an itinerary email was sent out between my cousin and I-I realized that :

1) We have a lot of things to squeeze in to only one week 

2) The Super Bowl is Feb 6 (when they will be here) and I forgot about that big event-need to plan par-tay.

3) How excited we both are to see each other-gossip-hang out-have a short vaca!

4) There will be a lot of pictures taken and a lot to blog about :).

This past week our homegroup/bible study group started a series on marriage-which is right up our alley :).  I think I'm going to enjoy it.  In our group we, of course, are the youngest couple-as well as the shortest marriage (32 years-6 years-5 years-5 months).  It was interesting to see different perspectives on marriages as well as each couples uniqueness in their relationship.  Example:  On everyone's wedding day-there soon to be husbands tried to talk to them during the service to tell the bride how beautiful she was and express their excitement.  Everyone except mine :) (this ex. shows uniqueness in our relationship).  On the way down the aisle-I struggled with keeping tears off my face(don't know why--I was super excited to be getting married).  When my dad gave me away Seth barely smiled-hardly held my hands (they were a little sweaty)-and definitely didn't try this whispering of his undying love for me or telling me how gorgeous I was.  He took it seriously-literally.  We were making a lifetime commitment to each other and he wasn't about to joke around with that--Or it could have been that our ceremony was maybe 8 minutes and he didn't have the time :).  I didn't get a 'you look beautiful' spill until we were driving to Georgia and I asked what he thought about me and my dress??!!  But anywho-that is one example of what I mean when I say each unique relationship.  We will start our role in children's church this coming Sunday-so I'm sure that will be in for a fun story.

This past weekend we went to Crystal Hot Springs with our buddies from North Carolina.  We had a great time-especially once we found out these springs have the best minerals in America (if I remember correctly)-it was like treating your skin to a spa :).  We also got to see the sunset, which was beautiful!

Sunset-Springs and Mountains :).

Pretty Mountains

Us under a hot spring 'waterfall'

Serious faces-Plus Gina's stache.

In addition to Gina's stache...Joe and Seth (majorly Joe) are starting a Beard and Mustache Society at Utah State.  It has been a very intense situation.  They have had meetings to get it going and Joe and Gina even had us over for an 'intersantum meeting'.  I'm sure I will have more to say about this later as it continues to evolve.  Maybe Gina and I will start a Cooking Club or something cooler-What you think about that Gina? Get back to me :).

Saturday we bought frames for pictures and decorating-rearranged some of our furniture-and cleaned a tad.  We made some delicious Chicken Noodle Soup and went to the Utah State basketball game.  Enjoyed ourselves and will probably go to another.

Making the noodles

Noodles Drying

Very yummy indeed.  Lastly, Sunday was a very lazy day for us-we went to the early service at church and stayed after to prepare for our children's lesson next week.  We came home and watched 2 movies-Social Network and Salt.

Looking forward to a somewhat busy week.  We are going to our 'adopted folks' home on Wednesday for some grilled pizza and we hear this is where the good stuff is at :). I'll let you know how it goes!

Have a good week everyone!

My Fav Mountains Again-It's been awhile since you've seen them I think.

The Cook's :)

Abundant Guests :).

Hello and good Tuesday to all :).  Seth and I have been busy since we've been back in Utah-but it's been a fun/good busy.  So below is how I feel recently----


Before moving to Utah I had so many emotions running through my veins.  Complete Joy and Happiness with marrying Seth (who, by the way, goes above and beyond in our marriage daily-I could not have gotten a better man to spend my days with---but WAIT I believe he would HAVE to tell that he has gotten a pretty good pick himself.) 
Fear of moving 2100 miles away from my family that I was soo dependent on. 
Sorrow to see how hurt and worried my parents were to have their favorite daughter move so far out of their reach.  
Worried about finding a job-our finances-losing my friends that I grew up with-finding new friends-feeding Seth as good as his mother did-starting a brand new life-etc. (I prob could go on forever with worrying-I get that honest!).  
Thrilled to have the ability start our marriage on a new turf and figure out things completely on our own (even though we do still call home for advice from our WISE parents!).  
Overwhelmed with the generosity of our friends and families who supported us through our wedding-renting our Penske truck for us-financial assistance for food/hotels-physical and emotional support through traveling with us and getting us safe and sound to Utah.  
Breathtaken by the all the beauty that Seth and I have been able to experience while in Utah-and while traveling out West :).


So, through all these emotions--we had so many family and friends promising to come visit us before we came.  Sorry to say this guys-but Seth and I NEVER EVER EVER expected anyone to really come.  We thought after we waved goodbye to his parents at Bear Lake that would be the last family we'd see our way-we both just knew we would only see family and friends when we came home for visits.  Only because it is an expensive trek that would be difficult to do for some folks-and we were trying to think realistically.  WRONG-we have the BEST family and friends (who knew?-kidding).  We are happy to say the Cook household has been booking visitors weekly and are so excited for our visitors to come and see our day to day lives in this beautiful place.

Olivia and Brian (less than 3 weeks)

Emily and Trevor (almost a month)

Will-Jay-friends?? (idk March maybe)

Mommy :)!!!!!! & Aunt Macka!! (first week in April!!!)

Visit with Seth's parents/siblings sometime in June :)

Sineath/Sinclair/Greer/Anderson/Baird/Cook :)-Beach Trip in July!

Our brothers-Eason & Zach hopefully are already planning trips without our knowledge:).

Possible Laurie and Joseph Dyches!!

I have just been overwhelmed with excitement that we are going to have people who willingly spend a chunk of there money to come visit us-so I had to get that off my chest :).  Don't worry folks I am trying to not start a countdown for any of these events-but don't hold me to that.

I think I've mentioned before that Seth doesn't encourage monthly anniversary celebrations-but I do-well at least a statement of maybe 'Happy 5th month of marrital bliss' which is exactly what I said this past Saturday morning-January 15th!  I jumped up and down-did my happy dance-told Seth happy anniversary-popped a very sweet morning kiss on him and waited patiently for a reply.....................?????????????  So after a few minutes I asked if he wanted to say anything-express joy of any kind-and I got a 'no'.  So I demanded that he tell me Happy 5th month of wonderful married fun-reluctantly I finally received something of a whisper that sounded like a happy anniversary statement.  Maybe it even could have been 'I love you so much Erika and so thankful that you married me-blah blah blah--I'm the luckiest man on earth---blah blah blah---Happy 5 Month Anniversary' :)-What do you think-yeah yeah I know all of you who know Seth knows that is a slight fib-but I did get a Happy Anniversary and a morning kiss.

My Brother who Needs to come Visit us :). Miss him very much.

My adorable flowergirls.

Bro and Maid of Honor Olivia-She was the BESSST!

My family.

So-This is my face when they tell me my groom isn't there (right before I was going to walk down the aisle).

Mr. & Mrs. Seth Cook :).

Cook family :).

Bridesmaids :).

  

Wedding pictures-Only because I looked through them that day and they were so good and such a happy time in my life-and wanted to share.

This blog post went completely opposite of what I was going for but you know that's how I roll and I'm okay with it.  So I'm ready to end and it will be with these statements.

Our weekly menu-because I like to tell everyone about our food lives

-Chicken Noodle Soup (we are going to try making our own noodles so wish us luck)-Tacos because Seth has been craving these and also because we have to have something with flour tortillas in our diet weekly-Pork chops because it should be warm enough that we can grill-Hamburger steak also known as poor man steak by Seth and that is exactly why we eat it :) oh-and because its delicious-Chipped beef gravy and biscuits yea.  Now I have to go and cook because I'm getting hungry.

Weekend/Future plans

-Idaho lava hotsprings-suppose to be a pretty cool place similar to a hot tub-will be sporting a bathing suit.

-Outdoor Ice Skating Rink

-Utah State basketball game: Whoop

-Church-we have two services to choose from-the joy of choices :)

-Preparations for our GUEST! :).

The Cook's :)

ChillllllY January :).

Hello January 2011 :).  It is a cold January in Utah-it literally gets down to the negatives or in the single digits-early morning and will maybe warm up to mid-upper teens midday.  Every morning this past week-as I walk my merry way out our apt to work-I take a breath of fresh Rocky Mountain air and my nose burns intensely.  I now take breaths in and out of my mouth instead of my nose :).


Fun Fact 1: Seth and I got an electric blanket for Christmas from my parents.  I will tell you right now it is the death to us.  Seth and I aren't napping people (or at least we haven't been since we've been married).  We have both taken a nap daily since we have gotten this electric blanket.  We plug it in-turn the controller up to about 8-HI-we both get pretty giddy/excited-jump under it-eventually fall asleep and nap for a bit.  So-this electric blanket is wonderful but again will be the death to us.


Fun Fact 2:  We are having visitors!!  Seth and I are excited to have some of our first visitors coming in February.  Our recent conversations have been fun because we are trying to plan sightseeing-entertainment-meals-snacks-down time-sleeping arrangements-people meeting-etc... All without going overboard and running our guest ragged.  My cousin Olivia and Brian are coming the first full week in February and Seth's sister Emily and her husband Trevor are coming the third weekend in February.  You guys will love the Rockies :)!


Fun Fact 3:  Married Pet Peeves :)--So I think this just will be fun even though I'm displaying some of our personal lives.  Seth and I both do small things to annoy the other (not on purpose of course) but we've learned to just make it a joke-and make it fun instead of annoying.  I'm sure you older more experienced married couples already know this trick :).  
--I do not like closet doors open-I feel that closets have doors to hide out the junk/nonsense-and they should always be closed so others don't have to see the nonsense.  Even at work I have to go through every residents room and shut their closet doors.  So-Seth NEVER shuts his closet door after use.  He has come up with an 'elf' that must come into our home and open the closet door (only on his side of course to try and frame him) as well as open only his dresser drawers :).  So this little elf comes daily to visit us.
--Toothbrushing-Seth refuses to share a hand towel with me!  He says I make it dirty because I don't wipe my mouth with water when I'm finished-I just wipe it on the towel (which that is what it is for)-but he is pretty adamant about this.  I also wipe my toothbrush on the towel so it will be dry for the next usage-don't judge me.
Thats about all our pet peeves with each other :)!  Just kidding-we have a few more but these are our top daily ones-and I won't continue with more.


With it being so nippy around here lately-I've enjoyed being inside-and most of you guys know Seth is an outside/nature sort of guy.  He likes to get out and walk and get fresh air (which I like at times but can do without when its this cold).  Anyway the poor boy had been cooped up for a few days and wanted to go for a walk-so I broke down and agreed-wrapped up in my longjohns-new ski pants-and several layers of clothes and we trugged out for a walk oncampus.

We live in such a beautiful place!  It is always nice to have a little motivation to get out and enjoy where we are :).  We are looking forward to having our guests in February to experience what Seth and I get to see daily!


Current items: 
I'm currently reading the Zion Covenant series by the Thoene couple-and going to start reading 'The Hunger Games' series which is a popular series out here.  I never heard of it until we came here-I'll keep you updated with that :).  
Seth and I are looking forward to having Meatball Soup with our tortillas several nights this week :). Yummmmmmmm.
We are going to be Church School teachers for children at our church-WOW-watch out kids-we will discipline :).

The Cook's :).

Our First Christmas

2010 was a wonderful year for Seth and I

--We got engaged (even though that wasn't the funest time for Ol Vic and myself-we worked it out)

--Seth and Zach graduated college and high school.

--Laurie and Joseph Dyches were wed on 6-19-10--Fun.

--We were married 8-15-10 :)-A day made wonderful by the help of ALL my family members!

--We packed up and moved to Utah right after our wedding.  We have seen so many beautiful landscapes and met so many great people!

--We were able to go home and visit with our families (that we haven't seen in 4 months!)

2011 will surely be a great year!  We are looking forward to spending it in Utah-enjoying all its scenery-national parks-and surrounding states!  We are also looking forward to all the visitors we are hopefully expecting :).

The Cook's first Christmas was wonderful-we were able to spend it at our homes in SC.  After a full day of traveling with the jitters and 4 months of built up excitement we finally landed and raced off the plane to see my parents and one of Seth's best friends (Jay).  I, of course, ran to my folks and Seth ran to Jay :).  It was a wonderful homecoming.  We traveled to a Cracker Barrel and got to see Eason & Brittany-Zach & Karla-and Seth's lovely parents :)!  Our week had started off perfect!

Troupe (my pup) was soo excited to see us :).  He did his excitement pee and we wore him out playing that evening!  I miss him and I see a custody battle erupting between my father and I when we return to SC and want Troupe back.  My dad absolutely loves that dog to death-and he worries about him maybe more than he did with Eason and I!

Our little Cook Family :).

Seth and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to be the 'kids' again at both of our parent's homes.  We didn't have any major obligations-chores-responsibilities.  We had our parents with us to take care of us at all times and we were able to just relax.  That was probably one of the best things!  Coming back to Utah-we noticed that we both had to 'grow' up a little bit-we were back to our adult world that we were able to leave behind for a week :).

Cook's/Cutsinger's

                         Cook's Fireplace                       Cook's Christmas Dinner

My first Christmas with the Cook's was a lot of fun.  We were able to visit with Seth's family in Camden one day.  Mrs. Cynthia and Emily made a very yummy Christmas dinner for us and we all enjoyed sitting in the Living Room by the fireplace.  Christmas morning had an early start-Seth and I tried to get up early everyday and stay up late every evening while we were home.  I called my parents to wish them a Merry Christmas morning around 7 and I didn't get a Merry Christmas back-I got a "Erika, it is 7 in the morning-what do you want."-O the love :).  Anywho Seth's family are early risers-which is a good thing-so we were all up early on Christmas and were able to enjoy each other. After breakfast-stockings-and presents it turned into a Nerf Gun War targeted at Mrs. Cynthia.

 

Christmas in Union is a Sineath tradition and we were able to see all of my family so that was perfect :).  Friend time came the following few days-we had breakfast with one of my best buds Laurie and her husband-we hung out with Seth's buddies-shot skeets and played some games-and the next day I got to see Sarah and later that evening the newly engaged Beth.  

Seth and I with my parents

                                         

My Cousin Olivia and Bro Eason

The cute Dyches couple

After a great but busy week-Seth and I were ready to head back to our adult lives in Utah and be in our own home :).  Looking forward to visitors and the next time we will be in good ol' South Carolina!

The Cook's :).