Go big or go home.

I came across a couple pictures which are cheesy most certainly, but they reminded me how far I have come both personally and educationally. I always knew that I wanted to get my bachelors degree, but it never crossed my mind that I might not do it in four quick problem-free years. I started college the summer of 2004 which was eight years ago! It seems like a while ago, but it has been nearly a decade... it doesn't seem like it has been -that- long! I don't know where the time goes and I especially don't know how time can go so quickly and yet so slowly at the same time. I forget how old I am (26) and feel like I'm still 22. It kind of freaks me out that I am in my final year of my mid-twenties. What?! The late twenties aren't supposed to happen to -me-!! :-) Anyway, I will a month shy of 27 by the time I cross the stage at the University of Kansas but by golly I am crossing it. And will probably cry hard core. Getting a basic degree probably wasn't as much of a feat for most like it was and at times I have been embarrassed that when friends or acquaintances ask when they hear that I am in school if I am in grad school, but none of that matters. I beat several illnesses that drug me down and knocked me out of the game for awhile and that's all that counts to me. My message to you is to keep movin' and if you can't keep moving to keep your goals in your mind.

Update! (Update on the update 7/10/12)

Hello, friends! Just wanted to update everyone on what is going on with us since all of you are so good about sharing your own adventures.

I had my birthday which isn't that important, but I thought I would share a birthday picture since it's rare that we remember to take any. I'm 26 now and it's freakin' me out!! This is my last year in my 'mid-twenties' and I don't like it. I just have to remind myself that a) I could be way older and b) that you should "never regret growing older; many are denied the privledge." Anyway, I had a nice birthday and was able to do some shopping with the birthday money my parents gave me and had some dinner with friends at my favorite Mexican restaurant followed by cake and ice cream. The night before I had enchiladas made by my mom and a little family party. All-in-all it was pretty great.

Joe is attending school as well as a pre-med student and will be starting his junior year next month. He is having a hard time deciding what he wants to do exactly, but he knows that he wants to work in medicine. He is a math and science whiz and tutors other students at the local community college and at KU as well and is happy to report that everyone he has tutored has gotten an A! On top of that, he has taken his MCAT and did very well. Joe will begin shadowing doctors at a local hospital. He is still as crazy about sports as ever especially (but not limited to) the Lakers. Before I married Joe, I had no idea that people actually watched golf on TV for fun rather than for punishment :) I have actually learned a lot about sports -- rules, players, teams, etc. -- although I still don't and may never understand football.

In other news...
We are excited to move into a new place in a few weeks although it is just around the corner from our old one. We love our Lawrence 1 friends way too much to move somewhere else! Yes, that was the moving truck we used to move our things from our old apartment into our storage unit for the month. It was rented out to us by the storage company for a $10 gas fee. Awesome! Gotta love the Duck tape.
We will have to post some pictures once we are settled in. Unfortunately for Joe, no dogs are allowed so he will have to wait to adopt a doggie for a little while longer :)

Well, that is about it for us! We hope that everyone had a happy and safe holiday!

Love,
Bren and Joe

WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!

My sister, Melissa, posted this clip on my facebook page this morning because Orange County is "our movie" because it's awesome and plus, she misses me. So: if you have the same sense of humor as me/ like this clip, you should def netflix it or whatev. You're welcome.

Anyone feel like an apple?

We now have for the first time in our (year long) marriage... INTERNET! I wrote about how my old laptop got broken like two weeks after we got married, so we had no reason to get internet until now. I will probably blog more often now that I have a new laptop.
Well, I start school on Monday and I am excited and  NERVOUS! I feel like a freshman all over again. An old freshman. I hated the feeling the first time around. I would sneakily look at my map of campus and pretended that I did know where I was going (it took me like an hour to walk to my apartment once that should have only taken ten minutes tops). Well, SEVEN years later (Seriously! Starting to feel old, people!) -- after five years of college and a two year break -- I am returning to school to FINALLY finish up my bachelors degree! It  has taken far too long! Tommy Boy can be heard in my head: "Tons of people take seven years to graduate." "Yeah. They're called doctors." Oh well though. Anyway, I am starting at a new school, the University of Kansas, and couldn't be happier! We moved to this great little town two months ago, and it was relatively empty.  Lawrence is buzzing right now with all the kids back and they have their little parents with them and everyone is hoarding school supplies... it has stopped being so freakin' hot and the days are getting shorter... I feel fall coming and I just want to sharpen some pencils and take a big bite out of a big, red apple. Wish me luck!

Spa-ring, spa-ring!

Wow, it's been a long time since I have written anything... I go through periods where I want to do things like make my own magnets or scrapbook or write on my blog about what's going on in our lives, but those times are sometimes (read: often) few and far between. However, you can't share much in 160 characters nor should you.
We are very excited about it being spring here in Kansas. It's so nice that the world is green again. I love flowers and seeing trees all puffy with blooms. Joe is a total snow bunny which is weird since he is from cali/arizona, but I hate the snow since I hate being wet and cold, so I am happy to say, "GOODBYE, SNOW!"
Joe and I are moving about 30 minutes from where we live now in order to go back to school. We can't wait to have a new start... although our old one wasn't that long ago. We will definitely miss our friends and family, but the good news is that we won't be too far so don't forget about us!