Party Like A Rock Star!

Where has the time gone? I don't know if Heidi agrees with me, but I think that time is flying! Maybe it is because I feel like I can never get everything done that I need to!

I'll be honest. I'm a little nervous. I have a Contracts midterm coming up on Monday. I guess now is the time to prove that I really know what I am doing. But do I? I like to think so. Only time will tell. My contracts professor is actually pretty intense. She got really mad at us the other day because she thinks that we don't read or study the cases. She told us, "You all think that you're just a bunch of g** d*** rockstars and you don't need to study or do anything!" I thought it was kind of an unfair assumption. I truly think that most everyone reads and studies. The problem is when she calls on people to answer questions, they don't seem to know the answer. However, I think it is because she is so intimidating! Oh, well. I guess the tests will show who really does know their stuff. The test will cover: offer, acceptance, consideration, promissory estoppel, and option contracts. That's a big load! So wish me luck.

On the family side of things, my little Trey bug is getting smarter and smarter! He blows me away everyday! He can locate his eyes, nose, hair, ears, fingers, toes, cheeks, chin, bum, and...weiner. He walks around saying "mom" and "addy." So freakin' cute. If he has a poopy bum, he'll go into his room, grab a diaper, and bring it out to Heidi so she can change him! Whenever we bless the food he will bow his head until the prayer is done. He helps me do the laundry by handing me clothes from the hamper or I'll hand him clothes from the washer to put in the dryer. He also helps unload the dishwasher by handing me all the utensils, dishes and stuff so I can put it away. He usually won't leave until the job is done! He's the most loving little boy I've ever met. Sometimes I'll whisper in his ear, "go give mommy loves" and he'll hurry off to find her to give her a hug and kisses. There is numerous times when he'll randomly walk up to Heidi or myself, just to pat our cheeks or legs and give us a hug. What a guy. I don't know what it would be like without him. It's been great having him around.

On the social front, things are going good too. This past Saturday we went out to the Indian restaurant with Jared (my school buddy) and his wife Ellen. The service was terrible but the food was incredible! They are both good conversationalists so the evening went well. This coming weekend we're going to hang out with Sam and Brittany from my class (yes, the Brittany I mentioned in my last post). Sam is from Brazil. He's a cool guy. Brittany is one of the few members here. She's from Delaware. So that should be fun too.

Anyway, other than that there's not much else to say. I turned in a couple of papers this past week. A three pager in torts and a ten pager in legal writing. So I am staying busy. I'll let you know how my mid-term and this weekend goes next time. So look forward to that.

Goodness Sakes! and Tummy Aches

It's been a little while since my last post. As you probably have guessed, I've been pretty busy. School got a little more hectic and I've been putting in about 60+ hours per week trying to keep up. I don't get home until after 7:00 now. I'm still keeping up with my school work, so that's good.

I have a Contracts test coming up in the next couple weeks and I have a feeling that it is going to be brutal. It all makes sense in theory, but when you get under a time constraint and you have to put the application into words, it gets a little tricky.

The home life has been good, although I feel like I'm getting less and less time with my family. Poor little Trey Bug has had the stomach flu for the past few days. We gave him a blessing and I think he's pretty much over it now. We only had to wash our love seat three times, our carpet and Trey's crib twice, and our kitchen floor once. Where does all that puke come from? Poor kid. But he's back to being his happy-go-lucky self now.

The social life is still alive and well. It seems like Heidi is meeting new people all the time. A really nice girl in my class, Brittany, came over and talked to her for a while the other day at a school chili cookoff. They really hit it off and Brittany has reminded me every day that she wants to get together with Heidi. So that should be a good way for Heidi to be able to get out of the house.

As for me, I've made a new buddy, Jared. I sit by him in all my classes. We get along great and our personalities really mesh. We're constantly exchanging cynical remarks. He's been good to study with and get input from.

This past Saturday he convinced me to get up early on Saturday and go running with him up in the mountains. I'm not a distance runner so I was hesitant, but I eventually conceded. Big mistake. I haven't worked out, played basketball, or done any serious bodily movement (except turn pages of books) in about two months. Yet, for some reason I agreed to go on a four mile run, UP the mountain, at 8,200 feet elevation. What was I thinking? I kept up for the most part, but I was dead by the time we were heading back and ended up walking most of it. Right now my quads, calfs, feet, hips, and lower back are all VERY sore. It makes me walk a little funny (of course, everyone in Wyoming has a funny, cowboy walk. So maybe I just blend in now). It was nice to have the conversation with Jared, but maybe next time we can leave the running out!

Other than that, not much else is going on. We're just trying to make the best of our time here in Laramie and looking forward to Heidi's family coming to visit us this weekend! I'll have more to update at that time!

Oh, I know people have had a problem posting comments. I've been trying to get that all sorted out, but I don't know if I have yet. Please do me a favor and try to post something. If it doesn't work, send me an e-mail and let me know what is going on. Thanks!

Release the Hounds!

I'm into my second week of law school and things are still going good. I'm starting to get some pretty big work loads. On Monday I only have two classes so I'm done at 12:00. However, Tuesdays are my busiest days - FIVE classes. So I usually have a busy day studying on Monday. After taking about a half hour to come home, eat lunch, and see my family, I get back to studying. Yesterday, I got back to school at 12:30 and ended up staying there until 7:30 pm! I only got up twice during that span to get a drink of water (about a one minute break). That's a whole lot of studying! Interesting thing is, when I'm doing my work, time just flies! Before I knew it, it was 7:30! (Truth be told, I actually didn't get it all done. I neglected my reading for legal writing. But I figured I could get away with it this one time...and I did.)

The material is so awesome to study! I'm loving every second of it. So far we've read a pretty substantial number of cases (I've listed them on the left side), with a variety of situations. I really enjoy coming home and talking to Heidi about them and getting her take on it. We usually agree.

Speaking of Heidi, she has turned out to be freakin' Betty Crocker! She's an amazing cook! We've had some excellent dinners here in Laramie, courtesy of Miss Crocker herself! Tonight was Chicken Curry and it was cooked perfectly with the perfect proportions! We've had Ranch Enchiladas, pizza, baked cheesy potato crisps, just to name a few. She's so good to have dinner ready for me when I get home. What a great wife, eh? I couldn't be doing this without her.

As for the social situation, we went up to the ward campout this past Friday. We got to mingle with some more of the ward members. In fact, we met a girl who was friends with Kaylyn - Shane's (my buddy) wife. Small world. We did have a tense moment on the trip though. We left town with less than a quarter tank of gas in the Element and we had to drive UP the mountain about 45 minutes. The gas light came on half way there. ** gulp ** I didn't think that we'd make it back but I coasted in neutral most of the way back and the Hallewells followed us just in case. By the time I pulled into the gas station, my needle was far below the empty line! (Dad would have shook his head in disgust if he would have known!)

Wednesday we're having another couple from the ward over to play the Wii. The Nish's. They live in the same complex as us and they just moved here too (from Canada). Cool couple. They're expecting a baby soon. Also, since they're from out of the country, neither is allowed to work. He goes to school and she stays home all day. So Heidi has someone nearby she can do stuff with, if she wants.

Well, other than that there's not much else to say. Heidi is posting our apartment pics on her blog, so that's something you can check out. We had dime-sized hail the other day! That would be worth putting some pictures on for! I'll have Heidi put it on her blog.

For now, I better go. My professors have "released the hounds" and I better get running or I'll get devoured! ** yipe! **

** Whew! **

Well, here I am, three days into law school and I haven't freaked out yet! Actually, things are going really good. I was afraid that there would be so much "homework" that I wouldn't be able to stay on top of everything, but it hasn't been like that at all. I go to school about 7:45 am and stay until about 6:00 pm. Not bad. Typical work day (and let's face it - I'd rather be studying law than working at a real job!). The time has been flying by for me (I'm sure Heidi disagrees) because the time is so valuable for me now (Economically speaking, scarcity creates value. My time is now scarce, and therefore it is valued more. Hence, it seems to fly by, because there's not as much to go around now. But I digress). Some days I only have two classes, but spend six hours reading and studying. Other days I have five classes in a day and therefore only get a few hours of studying (Strangely enough, every single day has a different schedule. Weird.)

I've thoroughly enjoyed it thus far, though. I thought that perhaps I might get burned out on all the intricacies of law, but nope. I've really loved classes and, more surprisingly, I've really enjoyed reading the material. But best of all, I get to spend the whole evening (about 6:00 - midnight) with Heidi and Trey. I didn't think I'd have much time for them, but FORTUNATELY, I've had just as much time with them as I did when I was working full time. Except now I get Saturdays off (Can I get a big WOO HOO?! Go on. Even if you're at an office or alone at the computer reading this, I want you to give me a "WOO HOO!" even if you just whisper it. C'mon. I need the encouragement, and I'll know if you didn't!).

We've become pretty good friends with the Hallewells (Troy and Jamie). He's a 3rd year law student and she has a degree in education. They are a very energetic, fun, and social couple and I've really enjoyed getting to know them. We will be going over to another couple's house tomorrow (the Studyvins) and will be attending the ward campout (although we won't be staying over) at a park up in the Snowy Range Mountains nearby. So socially, we're trying to get our foot in the door. We went to a law school BBQ tonight (for all the law students). We didn't really talk to anyone other than the Hallewells, though. It was kind of a culture shock for me because they had two kegs of beer for everyone to drink (keep in mind, the event was sponsored by the law school). I watch closely to see which of my classmates partook, and surprisingly (to me at least), everyone choose beer for their beverage. It's certainly different than a BYU BBQ, I'm sure (Three words: green Jell-o and rootbeer).

Well, anyway, that's the story thus far. We're settling in for the time being. I've been working out a scheme to get back to Utah via BYU Law. I've been corresponding with the admissions lady who complimented me on how well I handled being on the wait list. When I told her that I'd be applying to transfer, she told me "I'll watch for it." Keep your fingers crossed!

Settling In

This will be my first official post on my blog! Woo hoo!

We've officially been in Laramie for a full week now (although it seems like longer). We're slowly getting our stuff put away and making our apartment feel more like a home (although Heidi, understandably, refuses to call anything but Utah home!). The apartment is a lot smaller than our last place, but it is nice and new. We're finding places to store everything and when we finally do get everything all unpacked and cleaned up, it should feel pretty cozy.

My law school introduction classes start Wednesday! To be perfectly honest, I'm pretty nervous and apprehensive. I've been warned for years about how grueling law school is, and I'm about to find out. I'll be fine once I get settled into the grind, though. I had this uneasy feeling when I left for my mission and when I first started college. It's more fear of the unknown than anything.

It'll be nice to meet some other people too, so we don't feel so abandoned out here. We'll go check out church tomorrow at our new ward - Snowy Range Ward. Church starts at 9:00 (ugh!). There are only two church buildings in the entire town, but it looks like there's six wards (ok, nine if you count the singles wards). So we'll see how that goes.

We'll see what next week brings.