The Story: Colorado Dreamin'

    During the summer Daniel decided what he wanted to do for school. Gunsmithing, what is that? Don't ask me! ;)  So we looked around for places he could enroll.  He found 2 places on this side of the Mississippi-Arizona & Colorado. We looked at all the pros and cons and Colorado it was!  So we packed up our apartment and moved in with parents. In October we went to Colorado, looked around and found us a nice apartment.  We rented a U-Haul, packed it up and both our cars! (Barely had enough room!)  Then on November 28th at 5 O'clock in the morning we headed out.  We landed at our apartment at about 5:30 that evening. We were exhausted from all the packing and the long drive, so we only unpacked our cars and grabbed our sleeping bags and sacked out on our family room floor. The next morning we (well...about 94.7% Daniel) unloaded the U-Haul.  We got everything sorted and put away that day and the next except our couch..... We ended up putting the couch in the back of Daniel's truck for about 2 or 3 weeks.  I was not about to help carry up a 50,000 lb.couch up 3 flights of stairs!! Okay, so it's not 50,000 lbs, but I can tell you this.. IT'S HEAVY!! I could have toughed it out on flat ground, but stairs?? NOOOO, thank you! The first week at church we met a couple that was in the same boat as us, newlyweds with no kids, and the husband had been in the Army so Daniel and him had a lot in common, so we've latched onto them somewhat. I thought we were pretty tight, so I had Kaylon come help Daniel Move the couch since they were both muscle men. So now we have a couch and let me tell you it's a dream! No more stacking pillows and blankets to try and stay comfortable while watching a movie. 
     Daniel and I have really been enjoying it here in Colorado. The people are nice, nice sunny days, and there is a lot more open land, which we both really enjoy, but yet we're 1 minute away from Walmart & Target (Literally!) I've been working hard at Pearle Vision for my cousin Ben (Dr. Dixon), while Daniel is waiting to start school and work.  We miss our friends and family, but have been really enjoying this new adventure!

The Story: Adventures of the 14-14

Our first apartment was #1414 and we had many adventures there! Getting settled in as newlyweds, learning how to share space, and learning each others "quirks".   The first few months were definitely an adjustment for us, but many memories were made. One thing that really made this place memorable was the wonderful neighbor we had living above us, and I mean WONDERFUL...... or peculiar is a better word perhaps?  We have many stories that involve her that  made our short but wonderful stay there that much more exciting! I'd hear her vacuuming and stomping around when I'd get up for work at 4:00am, her loud evenings with friends or new found strangers?? She came down one day to apologize for all the noise she had been making (she'd had multiple complaints made about her loud evenings) she made sure we knew she could hear the people above her so she always tried to tip-toe around her apartment. Really you call those stomps tip-toeing?  Well anyhow, we were the nice neighbors being all forgiving and then I swear after that she cranked up the weirdness. Here are a few of our experiences. One day she ran into Daniel and told him that she was going to start giving piano lessons and that if either of us were interested to let her know.  Then suddenly she had an electric keyboard she was always playing on.  One day Daniel told me he heard her play the chorus of the Indiana Jones theme song for about an hour straight, she played her keyboard none stop, needless to say this was out on her deck-not muffled by apartment walls.  Maybe this was her idea of promoting her new business? She then caught me one early morning as I was headed to work and told me she was moving (aka being kicked out-come to find out), but not to worry cause she would be back to teach.  Teach what exactly?? She also informed me she rescued a homeless man that was going to help her pack and move her things. This homeless man then wandered around our complex for days and then she kicked him out of her apartment. I think he stole some of her alcohol... Not exactly sure what happened there- he seemed like a fine pick ;)  On another occasion Daniel and I had loaded something up in his truck in front of our complex and just as we were headed off I hear her yelling "Kathryn, Kathryn wait" so we stopped.  Quickly she throws this box on my lap through the window and says, "here's a present for you guys, love ya" and turns around and leaves. This present wasn't so much a present.  It was a box with some old family photos, and screwdriver, a bay area source book from years ago, sheet music, and other odds and ends.  One other experience I remember was we had some friends over for dinner and to hang out, once they left I got a text that said "Look outside."  She was right outside our patio playing on her keyboard with a tip jar on her table. P.S. this was at 10 or 11 at night, probably not many passer-byes?
Well, needless to say we enjoyed the memories we made with her and all the great people we met while living there.  We miss the area and the wonderful ward we were apart off.