Blue-skadoo, we can too!

Have you ever noticed....



That said...who is THIS???


creepy.

Off-beat Things I Love

Bank of the West, how I love you. I remember when Patrick and I first met you in Decorah. We knew we needed a bank with a branch in California, so naturally we chose you. Not only do you provide outstanding service at every single branch we've visited, but you gave us each free toasters just for getting checking accounts. True, they were almost worthless, but that's OK, because we now have an outstanding toaster-oven to do all of our toasting. Thank you, Bank of the West...for caring.

Wii Fit, you were the bargaining chip Patrick used to make it OK for us to own a video game console after I swore up and down that such a thing would never enter my place of residence. Because of you and your hula-hoop game I now have rock solid obliques, a heightened sense of balance, and a false sense of athletic superiority. Additionally, I love you because the leaves that fly across the screen change with the seasons, because you wished me a happy birthday complete with confetti, and because you care enough about Patrick, his health, and his whereabouts enough to ask me about him frequently.

Honey Maid Morning Sticks, I bought you in anticipation of a chocolate fondue party that never happened. I remembered you from when Deb had you for her chocolate fondue party at the Roush house. Honestly, my sweet sugary cinnimmony friends, I am glad I didn't have to end up sharing you, for your graham cracker taste is so delightfully addicting. I am thankful for a husband that doesn't snack.

Nordic Chior's New Release, I love you for obvious reasons, but mostly because of TRACK 8. Note to self for next time: publishing before releasing = royalties.

Mint.com, you are the warm fuzzy blanket wrapped around the cold hard reality of budgeting. You make tracking my money fun. Everything is in one convenient place--you track my credit card purchases, the debits and credits to my accounts at my awesome bank (see #1), and you show me my net worth. You collect data and show me spending trends in colorful pie charts and notify me with an email when I've exceeded my monthly budget for restaraunts. And you do all this for the reasonable cost of just $0 per month.

"Sprall", you are the unique season that occurs in mid-October in Bakersfield. A combination of Spring and Fall, you trick the senses. Although we know that "winter" is coming, you are the season during which we emerge from our homes after the long hibernation of air-conditioned bliss to escape the oppressive heat. We picnic, we sit on the porch, we run in the park, we do "out-doorsy" things. We wipe our noses due to allergies. The grass turns green because there is no sweltering 109-degree sun to scorch it into a lifeless brown. It might even rain a few drops. Yes, there is plenty of Spring in Sprall, but Autumn is still evident through a few colored leaves, the smells of the air, and America's favorite all-encompassing, time-sucking, husband-stealing passtime: Football. OK, maybe you aren't one of my favorite things, but you are still noteworthy.

Pictures from "work"

Me and some of my small group girls!

Guitar Hero

Laser Tag!!

Twin girls from my small group: Maicey and Allie!

I love them, they are so crazy and fun!

My youth team leader, George, challenging a student to the bungee run

Laser Tag!!!

Why I Love My Job

1. Bulletin board decorating

2. Games like duck-duck-goose and red light/green light

3. Yesterday I left work at 2:00. Today I'm not going in till 5:00.

4. When I go to work today it will be to play laser-tag and Guitar Hero

5. Photography and Newsletters

6. Designing and Proofreading

7. Music and Skits

8. Children's Sermonettes

9. Christmas Musical

10. Small Group with Middle School girls

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Endurance Challenge

Patrick really loves endurance challenges. This is part of his reasoning behind his love for things like cross-country running, golf, stuffing himself full of food, going to work every day, and watching all three movies of any given trilogy or a whole season of any given TV show in one sitting.

I hate endurance challenges. This is part of my reasoning behind my dislike towards things like exercise, camping, going without a meal, and wedding planning.

That said, I WILL finish wedding Thank-Yous today. I WILL.

Vienna waits for you

I just got back from my honeymoon! Here are some favorite pictures from the wedding season...

We stayed at the Blackhawk Hotel in Cedar Falls on our wedding night, it was SO FUN!

Our Hotel in Vienna

Beethoven's Grave...we also saw Brahms', Schubert's, Strauss'...among others.


One of the many beautiful churches we saw

The Vienna Boys Choir's Pop Album.


The State Library


One of our favorites: Cafe Central


Lego Girl that looks like me


Cafe Schwartzenburg!


Famous Strauss Monument


I made a friend in the park and he took a picture of us!

Typical cafe treats

Almost A Burzlaff

Just a few more days!

Pictures from Home

The original Brant Kids: Amanda, Steve, Deborah, Elizabeth, Matthew, Paige

Samuel Roush

I love this picture...neither of them are running home!

Accidental twins

Mr. Nathan

Patrick playing baseball with the Roush kids

Clara trying on her "Princess Dress" for the first time!

Beautiful Anna

Brant girls, past and present (from left: Elizabeth, Amy, Paige, Amanda, Molly, Deborah)

Clara Roush, our Flower Girl

The Grapevine

The mountain pass from Los Angeles county to Kern county through the Tahachapi mountains is commonly referred to as "The Grapevine". I have probably driven through the Grapevine about 50 million times over the past 10 months (or about 4-6 times per month, anyway) but tomorrow will be the last time for a loooooooong time.

Today was my last day of work and tomorrow I am MOVING to Bakersfield, not just visiting. No more depressing late night gas fill ups and early Monday mornings, driving back to make it in time for work. Jess says she has never seen someone so excited to move to Bakersfield, but she said it best: "It's not the place, it's the people".

Being from Iowa, Bakersfield doesn't seem that bad to me. Californians hate it b/c it's not a typical southern California town. But I like it for exactly that reason. It is absurdly hot, however, and I'm sure I'll be cursing the move I've been longing for so much this time tomorrow, after all of the moving, lifting, heaving, and climbing in the 100 degree heat.

I am so thankful these 10 months are over. On to better things.

This one is for Amanda...

This is from the Strawberry Festival I went to with Patrick and a few people from work a few wknds ago!

I'm a size 8!

Patrick and I are up in the bay area visiting Brian and Paul & Christina. We stopped by Express for some new jeans and *zzzziiiip* I now own SIZE 8 jeans! Ummm so when was the last time I was a Size 8? I don't know, I think the summer before my senior year of high school.

I would like to thank the following organizations for my recent accomplishment of dropping 10 pounds:

Thank you Bally Fitness, who I literally see more often than my fiance. For a mere $27 a month, you offer such friendly service, you always have an eliptical machine available, and your weight machines are always so clean and functional.

Thank you Prevention Magazine, your recent article on the top 30 best tasting belly flattening foods has changed my life forever.

Thank you Attune chocolate bars, for tasting so much like chocolate but for still being so good for my digestive health.

Thank you Express w10 jeans, for making me look amazing at size 8, but who also made me look good when I was size 10 and 12. You truly are the perfect jean.

And finally, thank you to myself, who REALLY did it this time!!

Pictures from the Shower

Here are some pictures from my bridal shower last month. Try and guess which one was taken immediately following the "wicked" surprise ;)