Christmas Eve Eve

YAY! CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!!! I'm excited. And I think Josh's parents are excited, too, because they've both called us to see when we were coming, and in Dan's case, ask if I could take off work to come earlier. Sorry Dad, but can't happen, especially just so you and Josh can play basketball. I thought it was funny. Josh and I have been trying to get each other presents without each other knowing. But I thought we had decided on one present that we each knew about (I needed new pants, and I promised to get him a certain gift) and then one more that we didn't know about. However, I came home last night from work to see more than 2 presents under the tree! Such a booger! He's cute, though. And then he keeps asking me when I'll get around to wrapping his, but he's always here! I work a lot, so I'm gone allowing him to wrap to his heart's content. But he's never gone! We're planning on having a little Christmas just the two of us tomorrow morning before we head down to Orem. He wants to do it tonight, but I work from 5 to 10:30 (ugh... I hate closing!) and I'll be too tired. My body is telling me my bedtime should be 8:30ish nowadays. If I'm up later, I get sicker and tireder (that is too a word, I just made it up). Anyway, I thought I should leave a little something... I will let ya'll know about Christmas, hopefully including some pictures! Merry Christmas!

First Visit

So we finally made it to the doctors! I have to wait for Monday to call and finish Medicaid stuff so we have insurance, but we took my aunt's advice and went through Baby Your Baby first so that we're covered while waiting on Medicaid. That saved us $300 this Thursday when we went in for my first doctor appointment! I know, crazy prices. If we ever show up without proof of insurance, that's what they charge. But take a look at these pictures! This place is amazing! Stone flooring, beautiful large wooden doors, a waterfall feature as you walk in the door... Outside it looks like a lodge, or something, with incredible landscaping (and Josh's company did the Christmas lights, by the way). So we're going to be really well taken care of.

This visit was just a consultation with a nurse, but we go back January 6th to meet our doc and get an ultrasound (yay!). This Monday, I'll be 3 months along (that's one trimester over!). Still dealing with morning sickness all day every day, but I got a prescription for the nausea, and it seems to be helping a lot. Now if only I could stop having to work such long hours and so late... I hate retail during the holidays! I'm not fit enough to be doing that anymore... Oh, and funny story: They tried to take some blood to run some tests at the Dr office, but I had been sick that morning and unable to drink a lot, and my veins are ridiculous to begin with, so they poked me a tons of times and got a few drops out of me, but that's it. So they're going to have to try again next time I go in. My veins just don't want to give up any blood, let alone be found!

And I have a great video of Josh singing for the Relief Society on my phone, but I can't transfer it like I can pictures, so I couldn't put in on our blog :( He was so funny, though. They got "requested" to come and sing. His ego wasn't inflated at all... Especially after watching the video I took and saying over and over again, "I sound GOOD!"

Oh Christmas Tree

So this is our first Christmas together, and we're excited about it! A week ago, we had a couple in our ward that was getting rid of their tree, so we helped take it off their hands. Even though he was exhausted from studying and getting up ridiculously early, Josh took me to the store to get a few lights and things to decorate the tree with. Then we cleaned up, set it up, and he relaxed while I trimmed the tree. It was a lot of fun, and really rewarding. Every night, we light it up, turn off the rest of the lights, and enjoy the atmosphere. I'm so excited for Christmas! I'm not even expecting us to buy or get any presents, I just love the holiday...and spending time with Josh. I've really been missing him this weekend while he's been with his dad in New York. I don't do well by myself for very long, let along when I'm pregnant and puking/dry heaving constantly... But he gets home tomorrow night, and I'm excited!

Okay, so I know it's been over a month since I've updated... I'm a slacker...

No, really, Josh and I have been ridiculously busy since we got our callings. Between both being in presidencies, working, going to school, life is crazy! Finals is this week, so after this week, things'll hopefully cool down a bit.

I've turned 24 years old since our last post. Yup, I'm old. Josh wasn't happy, because now I'm 2 years older than him in his eyes, rather than just one. Honey, it's still the exact same amount of time: a year and a half, and we both know it doesn't matter!

Oh, and I'm pregnant to everyone who hasn't heard yet! It's exciting, at least it is when I'm not constantly sick, feeling like I'm going to die, puking, not being able to eat, wishing I didn't have to go to work or anything and pretend I don't have the equivilant of the flu 24/7. Still working on getting that doctor appointment and insurance... Anyone know any good doctors in Logan?

Josh and I have decided I'm just doing too much, and need to slow down. So I'm planning on taking a leave of absence from school for the next year, then I'll go back and finish. Hopefully that'll help.

Last night was the Ward Christmas party. It was a lot of fun! Josh got to get up there and sing in front of everyone - a lot of songs, too! He got them all singing Jingle Bells and Rudolph with him. It was cute, and he did a great job! But by the time he was done, the food was gone, so I grabbed a plateful of potatoes and ham and cookies for him to eat at home. I think he enjoyed that :)

That's all for now. I have to plan my lesson for Young Women's tomorrow (Josh is cheating and having the Sister Missionaries teach his lesson for him... jerk) before I go to work. We love and miss you all!

MURDER

Mama Rosa and Father Alfredo at the Roni's New York City pasta parlor, La Sperenza, which means hope. Mama Rosa's husband, Pepi Roni was murdered a few nights ago. Father Alfredo came to give comfort to the family.

But one of these persons is not an innocent mourner, but a MURDERER! Is it Mama Rosa's son Marco, or Mama Rosa herself, or her brother-in-law Rocco or his young fiance, or Mama's daughter Angel, or her boyfriend Bo? DAH DAH DAH....!

Okay, as you may have imagined from my lovely subtitles, we were invited to join in a murder mystery last weekend. It was a blast! It was really fun to dig through our closets and find things to dress up in. And we got to eat Italian food, and "wine", and act our parts out as we tried to figure out who killed my husband. Before the night started, Josh and I had decided that it was me, Mama Rosa, and him, the priest, because we were having an affair and wanted the money to ourselves. We thought it was funny, even if it wasn't true.

Life, as you can probably tell from my previous entries, is not exactly easy right now. But we're somehow getting by. I got a new job working at Trade Secret, a hair salon, in the mall (I'm a Beauty Adviser) to help pay the bills. It kinda bites because it's retail, so I have to work a lot, including a sunday occassionally and Christmas Eve, etc. But whatever helps right now. I also got a new calling, so I'm not teaching anymore. I'm the 2nd Counselor in Young Womens. And it's a small YW, We have a total of three active girls, one of which is my Beehive. So it'll be a little (ah heck, who am I kidding? a lot) different than the YW I grew up in and am used to. But it should be a lot of fun. A lot of work, but fun. Josh still has not been sustained or set apart. The Stake Presidency is taking their sweet time on these names... hopefully this Sunday?

School is going alright... I think we'll both pass our classes. The weather is colder... but still not wintery yet (YAY). And.... that's basically it. We go to class, clean the house when we can, go to work, and crash every night. Then do our Sunday duties... that's life.

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Things are starting to look up. Josh and I realized that the only way we could get through the next few months would be either for him to quit school and work full time (unacceptable), or for me to get a job (physically taxing on an already taxed body and mind). So, against both our wishes, I started looking for a job. My friend Sariah, mission comp, is a manager at Trade Secret in the mall. She just had an opening, interviewed me yesterday, and I start Tuesday. I'll be a Beauty Advisor. It's a salon that focuses mostly on selling hair products. So, that's what I'll be doing until end of Spring Semester when Josh can work full time again. I'll be tired, but I always am these days, I won't have to quit if I get pregnant again, and Josh's schooling is the most important thing right now so that he can have a real job in the future and provide for our family. We'll be able to pay our bills now, and pay our debts some too.... YAY!

Angels All Around

Things keep piling on us, and it's really hard to keep a smile on our faces. I just wish that bad things would stop happening to us! I honestly can't handle what's going on right now (I just try to ignore it) and won't be able to handle anything else. Even Josh is getting depressed, and that's really hard for him. We are just grateful for other people. When Dan and Evelyn came up for the BYU vs USU game, and watched the first session of conference with us, we had a really great time. Yes, BYU beat us, I expected that. But I did not expect the fact that we would score! Go Aggies! (And go cougars for Josh...) And then last night, after another long day of tears and stress and everything, we went to dinner with a couple that used to live in Reeder, and we had a lot of fun! They made this italian chicken stuff over rice, and I made a really yummy apple crisp for desert. Then we played games. We really haven't smiled that much in a long time. We both commented on how we needed it.

Life happens

So, it's been a while since I've written. I've had a few things to update about, like how I made homemade bread and can't cut it straight and cut it really thick, so Josh has to do that part for me, but it still tasted good! And how I've started decorating for the fall. I love this time of year! The leaves are so pretty! Josh is finally getting his new calling. They called him to be the new Elder's Quorum President. When the Stake President called us in for it, Josh just sat there staring at him, not really knowing what to say. I answered most of the Stake Pres' questions for him. To say the least, he's a bit overwhelmed, but will do a fantastic job! Then we thought we were pregnant, and waiting for a for sure positive result from the doctor to announce it. But then again, we wanted to wait until after Ammon and Nicole's wedding so that they could have the spotlight like they deserve it. But then I miscarried earlier this week. So no worries about spoiling anything. And then we got a call about a car accident I was in almost a year ago, that further stressed us out because they want us to pay for one of the cars, when we don't believe I was at fault (and we don't exactly have the $2100 they are asking for). So needless to say, we've been having a lot of fun, and have been spending a lot of time comforting each other lately. Honestly, I think the Lord is just making sure I understand the next lesson I have to teach the week after General Conference- Joseph Smith Teachings #19: Stand fast through the storms of life. Very funny, Heavenly Father, I think we get it. We're not going less-active anytime soon. And we're still saying our prayers and reading our scriptures and everything! But this way the Relief Society might finally get to see me cry as I teach a lesson (I never cry in front of people, I'm too proud or something silly like that). But we're starting to do better. Evelyn and Dan are coming upthis weekend to see BYU crush USU, and watch Conference with us. So it's going to be nice. And if you haven't yet, take a ride up the canyons! We need to do that, too. The colors are so pretty!!

Artsie Fartsie

So I've officially finished decorating our living room. However, there are 3 other rooms and a hall to decorate. And as much as I love seeing mine and Josh's faces everywhere, I wanted something different. So I put together a Thomas Kinkade puzzle and mod podged it for our bathroom, painted a cute little saying for our kitchen, and pulled out my artsyness and painted a picture on a real canvas with real paints and paint brushes. It was way fun. Josh came in and saw my painting and threw up his hands and declared he gives up- I can do everything and should be the bread winner. I don't know about that, but I just had fun. I don't think I'm that great at it, anyway. Now I still have things to do and walls to fill, but they'll come as I have time and money. Josh really is doing well in his classes. I can't help it if I've taken similar classes before and had lots of practice to make me as sufficient as I am now... He'll get there. I love that kid.

TODAYS TOP HEADLINE

LOGAN, UTAH This just in: Joshua Steven McNeff enjoys dancing!!! That's right, folks, dancing. After much deliberation, Josh was talked into taking a Ballroom Dance class along with his usual studies at Utah State University. This was to satiate his lovely wife, Nicci, from not having dancing at their wedding almost three months ago in June. Dreading the coming day ever since they signed up for it, Josh reluctantly got off work early to go to dance class. After being there a few short minutes, Josh began to catch onto the "Cha Cha" with great finesse. Though still a beginner, Josh was seen smiling and was even overheard saying, "This is fun!" His wife simply winked at him and replied, "I told you so."

SLIDESHOWS

Just so you're all aware, I've added a couple slideshows. One is of our Honeymoon in Williamsburg, Virginia (including extensive pictures of the condo we stayed at via request from Mother and Father McNeff). Please note the rollercoasters we went on (they were incredible! And very scary... I screamed). We had a blast! And the other one is a handsome collection of two of the cutest little kids - us. Okay, so maybe not the cutest (our kids will be take that title when they come along). But it's still fun to look at. =)

Tag

Fine, here's my tag... I was trying to get away with not doing it... he he...

Last Name Scattergories Tag
What is your last name? McNeff!
4 Letter Word: Maid
Vehicle: Mustang
Boy Name: Manuel
Girl Name: Marissa
Pet Name: Monkeyer
Occupation: Mortician
Something You Wear: Mumu
Celebrity: Mylie Cyrus
Food: Miracle Whip-ups
Found in Bathroom: Mascerra
Cartoon Character: Max
Something You Shout: Move it!
Animal: Monkey
Body Part: Mouth
Word to Describe You: Magnificent
Something You Like To Do: Make cookies
Place You'd Like To Be: Monticello

Picturas!! Finally!!

So I finally got some pictures!!! YAY!!! Here some of them are along with captions explaining them. We hope you enjoy!No, we're not really naked.... just soaking up the sun at Bear Lake. The day was BEAUTIFUL! We had so much fun! And got a little red... but not as bad as it could have been because a certain young man got talked into wearing sunscreen. Mwah hah hah...

"Boulder Castle" named for the wonderful "boulders" Josh made (actually, I just think he was getting bored and wanted to throw mud balls at someone). We had a mote, with a river running to the "lake" behind it, with the "sea" (a.k.a. Bear Lake) in the background.

This was Josh's Birthday (the 28th of July for all you who sorta forgot). He's an ancient 22 years old now. I got him Alvin and the Chipmunks (he begged to see it everytime we went to rent a movie), Stetson After Shave (he really liked his little bottle and was running out and we couldn't find it in any stores) and a picture frame for his nightstand to put the picture he wanted most in it (one of us, of course). I made a really messy cake (never try to stack layers of soda pop cake... doesn't really work) and even got him some flowers. Awww!

Bear Lake

Finally, Josh and I made it up to Bear Lake (only like a 40 minute ride) to do some summer playing. We invited one of our neighbor couples to come with us. It was really fun! We built "Boulder Castle" in the sand (Josh's first sand castle, if you can believe it! I couldn't until I realized he really didn't know what he was doing). Our neighbors brought some toys, so we set up a volleyball net in the water and played until we got too hungry to keep going. Then we had a fun little picnic I brought (hogi sandwiches) and got shakes in town and headed home before I got too worn out from being out in the sun. It was really a fun activity (Yes Bryan, this is a good activity). Josh noted that the water is MUCH clearer than Utah Lake, the beach is a real beach full of sand with no rocks.... Beautiful!

Comments

To those of you who do not have a gmail account (Evelyn, Cheryl, etc), you can now leave us comments. I've changed it so you can. We hope to hear from you!

MICROWAVE!!!

After waiting for almost 2 months for Target to send us the microwave we ordered online, we finally called them and canceled that order and had them send us our money back (which came in the form of a gift card). So Josh and I took a drive Monday night down to Ogden (the closest Target store) and bought a microwave. We are so excited! Dinner in less time, leftovers, Josh can eat his corndogs for lunch, I can use my rice bag when another migraine hits, etc. YAY!!!

Magnifying our Callings

Today was my first day as a Relief Society teacher. Because of being sick all weekend, I had a really rough time this morning and was nervous I wouldn't be able to teach well. But the dizziness subsided and I was able to make it to relief society and teach. It went really well! I taught about building up Zion from the Joseph Smith handbook. I had to cut it short and not let everyone comment because we were running out of time, which is always a good sign. I wasn't really nervous, since I've been a missionary and I've taught a lot before, but it has been a while. But I did promise everyone some rotten food for next time that they could throw at me if they didn't like it. They seemed to like that idea.

Then Josh went hometeaching for his first time today! He companion is... well... antisocial and and makes his Sundays his travel to see family days. So Josh had to get one of our amazing neighbors to go with him. He seemed to like it and do a good job. I gave him a small lecture before he left about being a good hometeacher, not staying too short or too long, really offer to help, notice and needs, and not just be a month to month teacher. But I knew I didn't really have to worry. He's an amazing man!

Another wedding...

So, we think that one wedding to go through is enough for one year. We got to go to Mike Geary's wedding since he asked Josh to be one of his groomsmen. It was an interesting experience. We really didn't know anyone besides ourselves. We had to be there by 9:30 AM to be in the pictures at the Salt Lake temple. There were so many brides!! Ammon and Nicole, be happy you didn't get married that day as well. It would have been a nightmare! Then we had to wait around forever for the luncheon which didn't start until 1:00 PM (my hypoglycemia was acting up by then), which was in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Then by the time we got out of there, we only had an hour to rest at my parents' house before we had to turn around and head all the way back up to West Point (near Ogden) for the reception. It was a long day...! Especially for us since it wasn't really for any family or anything. We ended up having to leave the reception an hour early because I suddenly had a major migraine attack me. So Josh changed out of his tux and drove me home where I broke down from the pain I was in. But Josh and our neighbor gave me a blessing, and I slept all day yesterday so I'm pretty much finally over it now. Needless to say, we're glad we have a few more months before we get to spend another day at a wedding. But at least this one is for Ammon and Nicole, who we love and will be glad to spend the day with everyone.

Visitors!!

Mother McNeff and Grandma Freeman decided to drive all the way from Orem and visit us! We were so excited! Okay, so maybe they just wanted to go to the temple up here, but we claim that it was for us initially. It was a really neat experience. Josh got the rest of the day off so he could come with us, and we went through a session at the Logan temple. Then they came and saw our house (and seemed to like it). Finally someone has come up to see the hard work we've put into making our home! Then we took Grandma Freeman around town looking for her childhood houses. It was like we were in a mystery. It was really neat to help her remember those days and show her around. Then they left us :( But we expect more visitors soon! (hint, hint).

24th of July

We decided to try being young again and stay overnight downtown Salt Lake City to watch the Pioneer Day parade. It was a lot of fun. Jamie and Jan went down and saved us a place, while we came down from Logan and picked up Brekke and Danny (who decided he wanted to join in the big kid fun). We got there and set up, and played Apples to Apples and Uno. My young husband was exhausted and fell asleep almost as soon as we got there. By midnight, we had all settled down and tried to go to sleep. However, there was a lot of noise, a lot of people, and Danny (amongst everyone but Josh) couldn't hold still and go to sleep. So we did an ingenious thing: We turned our canopy into a tent by lowering it down, then placing chairs and the wet sleeping bag of Danny's around the sides to help cut out the noise and lights. It worked for the most part. Kept us warmer, too. Then in the morning we got up and watched the parade and went home. It was a fun experience, not one I think we'll do for a long time again.

UPDATES

So, I have been waiting for pictures to write a new blog... but it's getting to be that it's been a couple weeks, and I still haven't got the pictures to show all that we have been doing. So I'll give an update, and hopefully get the pictures on here soon.

Callings in the new ward!

This last week, a member of the bishopric came to our house (he liked how we had painted it, he has good taste obviously) and asked Sister McNeff (that would be me now!) if I would accept to serve in the calling of relief society teacher. Of course I accepted! I got sustained this Sunday, and now we're just waiting for the bishop to get back to talk to Josh about his calling. We've been told that since he got up and helped with the sacrament our first week there, they've had a calling picked out for him... they've just been waiting for our records, and now for the bishop to get back from his 2-week vacation to extend that calling to him. When the other bishopric member was at our house, he had this little twinkle in his eye when the subject of Josh's calling came up. Josh, is of course being humble, but refuses to admit that it means anything, and that the fact the current Elder's Quroum president is moving in a week has nothing to do with it (even if he's just replacing whoever will be the new one in their old calling). But so far, the past two EQP's have been men our age, so I wouldn't put it past them... But we'll really both be very happy with whatever calling he does receive. (Josh is secretly hoping for something to do with scouts for some reason) :P

So life is back to "normal" since Danny left Saturday night. I got to sub in primary in our new ward for the music leader. It was a lot of fun. It's a small primary (only like 4 kids in senior primary). The only drawback was that sacrament got out 10 minutes early, so I had to fill in 30-40 minutes of singing with the junior primary (which was rather restless that day) when I had only planned 20... But it worked out. Josh is enjoying Elders' Quorum, and we are finally getting new friends! It's exciting. Now we'll have something to do sometimes instead of making yummy dinners just for us and watching movies. Though we'll still do those things ;)

Welcome!

So, to be considered up to date with the world, and after getting the idea from a good friend of mine, Josh and I decided (or I did, actually... I'll fill him in later, but I'm sure he'll love it and we'll start a new craze with our friends and family) to make a blog. This way, everyone can keep up to date with us, now that we're married, starting a new life, meeting new people, living a couple hours away from family, still wanting people to keep in touch with us, etc. We do each have facebook, but this seems the more "grown-up" way of doing things. Anyway, I can't promise I'll stay 100% on top of this, but considering how much I have going on this summer, it shouldn't be to hard.

Josh is currently working for Canyon Landscaping here in Logan, and loving it. He works on many different job sites, but lately the one he's been spending most of his time on is the mayor of Providence's house. However, with Josh being gone from 7:30 AM til 6:00 pm-ish every day, I get slightly bored and lonely (thus the sarcastic line above about me making time to write). So I kidnapped my little brother Danny for a week. And life is sure different with him around. But we're all enjoying it. Danny's having a blast with his big sis. Oh, and in case you were curious, I'm not getting a job this summer due to health problems, but we're making it okay. The Lord is surely blessing us. I'm just glad I have such a wonderful husband who loves me enough to work out in the heat all day so that we can get the provisions we need. He's amazing.

Well, that's it for this time. I look forward to getting this out and about and hearing from more people!