Blogger Award

Katie gave me my first blog award a long time ago. I have put off fulfilling the duties of my first blog award because I am having problems thinking of what to write. I am suppose to write ten honest, obscure facts about myself, which is difficult because Katie doesn't want me to write about me getting married. It is going to happen, sorry.
1. I think it would be cool to write a book. I have been toying with the idea for a while. I read several book blogs by authors I love, I just don't have any ideas of what story to tell. I just know that I love telling stories, they just tend to be other people's stories.

2. I am a published poet. I like to write poetry and have several scraps of paper with little lines that I want to work into a poem.

3. I love my extended family. I love my fremily and friend. I want them all to come to my reception. I have no desire to have any of them at my actual wedding. The only people I want there are my mom and dad, my older brother and his wife Jason and Velika, and my younger brothers Kenyon and Jarom (Jarom unfortunately can't come because he is on a mission, which is okay). I might make an exception for a close friend or two, who are close to me like sisters (you know who you are), but other than that, I noone else. My only defense is that Austin's family can't be in the temple and he doesn't really care if anyone comes for him.

4. Austin and I were thinking of eloping and just having the reception on January 2nd. Don't worry it would be to the temple. Unfortuately it doesn't appear that that will be an option, in fact December 30th is looking a little dicey too.

5. I never wanted to move back to Arizona when I graduated from BYU. I was thinking more along the lines of Massachusettes, but Heavenly Father had a different plan for me. I still want to move away from the western United States for a while. I have been here most of my life and have discovered in the times that I have been away that I really enjoy having seasons.

6. I want to get my PhD. There is no reason for this other than I want to be called Dr. Kelsi. I think it sounds so sophisticated, yet approachable. I like to learn new things and do research as well, which are problably better reasons to get a doctorate degree than just the title, but the title is pretty cool too.

7. I am lonely much of the time. I suppose this is my fault, but when I move back to Thatcher, the people that were here before were mostly gone and most of the YSA that I could hang out with just graduated from high school and have different things that are imprtant to them and being from a small town, the clicks were already established. I just didn't want to break the mold I guess, so I turned to books.

8. My first name came from a billboard on the side of the road for a grocery store chain that has since bit the dust. There was a store in Mesa for a while that my mom went shopping at a couple of times when I was a little girl. The chain name was spelled differently (Kelsey's), but yep, I was named after a billboard.

9. When I see a really nice car, I tend to drool. It doesn't matter, the make or model, but I drool. I tend to claw my window if a lifted truck with good exhaust goes by (ask Lisa, she has witnessed this behavior). I like classic cars better than newer ones, and prefer Fords and Cheveys to Dodges on trucks. I want a 60's era Mustang and Corvette. I already have a good truck (well almost).

10. I have the hardest time saying that I am going to do something and then doing it. This is more of a personal problem, like saying to myself, "I'll do the dishes today," and then actually doing the dishes. If I am accontable to another person it is a different story, I'm there, I'll do it, it is just with myself that I have this problem.

I lope you enjoyed reading my honesty. Now for my nominations.

Liz: I am so glad you commented and that you found me. It is so nice reading about your family.
Rebekah: I have always looked up to you. I will admit that I have been jealous of your accomplishemnts, but your sweet spirit and perseverance are inspiring to me.
Charlo: I love your quarky personality. Your blog almost always makes me laugh and brightens my day
Holly: I love that you put everything out there for everyone to read. You are an awesome mother and blogger.
Molly: I miss spending time with you. I have fond memories of painting your room and just talking. You are a total babe and I love you.

Suicidal rats

I had a rat in my house. Well, I guess technically it is just Austin's house right now, but my things are there. I have to wash all of my dishes underneath the sink, I heard it crawling around on my pots and pans last Thursday. It has gone now though. Friday night/Saturday morning it decided to quench its thirst in the toilet and couldn't get out. Let me start at the beginning.

We started suspecting something last Saturday after discovering that our mouse traps had been tripped. We bought some sticky traps on Wednesday thinking that it was a fast mouse and not getting stuck in our snap traps. Thursday we found that whatever was in our house was getting in the trash can. We put a sticky trap behind the garbage can. On Friday morning, Austin discovered that that particular stick trap had disappeared. Friday evening we looked under the couch, found the trap and a rat tail stuck to it. Needless to say, I was thoroughly grossed out. The rat had chewed its tail off to get away. We put the rat trap that my mom had behind the garbage baited with a flaming hot funion. I decided that I had no desire to live with a rat, so Friday night I explained to Heavenly Father how I felt and I would be greatly obliged if a way would be provided for the rat to leave. Saturday morning, Austin found it drowned in the toilet. It could be that it was thirsty after eating a flaming hot funion that we use for bait, but I know that it was Heavenly Father answering a prayer.

Because of the masochistic, suicidal rat Austin spent Saturday morning cleaning the bathroom instead of taking engagement pictures with me. I woke up early so we could get our pictures done and then spend the rest of the day doing birthday things for me (that was his plan, not mine). However, MS rat changed that. We took our pictures in the afternoon instead (I'll post them later). I had a good birthday weekend anyway, and there is NO RAT IN MY HOUSE!

Driving back from Wilcox...

...our conversation went something like this:

Austin picked up a gummy worm that had two gummy worms stuck to it and was pulling them apart with his teeth

Me: (after an internal debate) sexual (think of the way Katie says it)

Austin: you are one dirty little girl...you stayed too long in Utah...which you wouldn't think would be the case

Me: You can thank Katie and Amber if they come to the reception.

Ponderings of a bored soul

I really should get up and do things, I have a vehicle, but I lack the ambition. I can only walk around Walmart so many times. On Tuesday a went on a shopping spree, but that is about as exciting as it gets here. I got myself a sweater for engagement pictures (when I saw it, I thought of Katie and her fall style, but we will have to see when I take the pictures), a pair of jeans because they were desperately needed, some cute undies for when I am married, and I tried to get a black shirt for Austin to wear for our engagement photos but he had too broad of shoulders to fit (pretty much if he hugged me, the shirt would rip). Austin and I also saw a skunk that night. I don't know what it is, but I have seen more skunks when I am with him than I ever thought possible.

The weather has been lovely lately. I leave the windows open most of the day and the house stays perfect. The cooler weather is putting me in the mood to make soups: french onion, clam chowder, beef stew, etc. I am even tempted to make homemade bread, but that might not happen since I have not mastered that yet and I would be a little self conscious serving it to Austin (I know he wouldn't care, but I do). I also saw these really cute mini pumpkin pies on a food blog yesterday that I want to make, but I haven't got a mini muffin tin, so I am sad.

Well, I need to go so I can shower and then pick up some things at the store. Have a good day/week/month, depending on who reads this.

Sock monkies, silk flowers, and sickies

I keep telling myself I should write a post, but I can never think of anything when I am sitting at the computer. I love sock monkeys and so Austin found one at Walmart and got it for me. I have no idea why I have such an affinity for sock monkeys, but I do. They are just so friendly and happy. Picture from here.

I went shopping for silk flowers a couple of weeks ago. I found all of them at Hobby Lobby, except for the white daisies. I found those at Ribbons and Lace. I had a hard time trying to find black ribbon to go around grip of my bouquet, I guess black satin ribbon is in high demand (come to think of it, Halloween is coming up and that might explain the lack of black ribbon at craft stores).

Austin and I have been sick. First he got sick the weekend we went shopping for the flowers. Then we were okay for a few days, after which I got sick. I guess that is what I get for kissing a sick man. Oh, well it was worth it.

I need to keep myself busy. My dad got a new job down in Mesa and so my Mom and Dad are down in Mesa all the time, so I am left home alone (not without wheels though, I get to drive around a 4 wheel drive Suburban with a sound system) with nothing to do and no one to talk to. I look for jobs and watch movies (mostly Smallville, but I have to get my fill of chick flicks too). I can only do so many things for the wedding in Thatcher, but going down to Mesa for a week would be just as boring. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

He finally asked me...

...and I said yes!

Yesterday he said he was going to go by Clonts today to see about the ring. When he came by after work I asked him about and he said he forgot (we spent the last three days together, I was thinking he just wanted to see me). I thought, no big. I have a ring on my right hand I wear on my middle finger that my brother made, and before we left to the store, Austin stole it from me and wouldn't give it back. I didn't really think anything of it until we were on our way to our trailer (it is tiny, but it is ours and we can afford it) so we could eat dinner (he said he would make me dinner, which was wierd, but I didn't pick up on that) and he put the song to Michael Peterson's "From Here to Eternity." We got to the trailer where I had my soup, cheese, and chicken strips while he ate his sandwich and chicken strips. I kept bugging him about my finger being naked and I wanting my ring back. This went on for about 45 minutes, until he stood up and got my rings out of his pocket (I noticed there were two when he put them in his hand and just picked up the one Kenyon made me). He held out the hand made ring and then got really nervous/awkward and then showed me my ring and put it on my finger. I waited for him to say something, but he couldn't so I stood up and asked him if he was going to ask me. Then he said, "Kelsi Rose Burrell, will you marry me?" I said yes and then kissed him. He just is so shy about this sort of thing, so it was perfect for him.

I am getting married!

Better late than never...right?

I would like to start this post by apologizing to Stephanie Black (regardless if she reads this post). I said I would read and review her new book Methods of Madness before the end of August. I had it read last week, but I procrastinated my review. I am sorry. You can take back your book if you want (although I would probably cry). Without further ado, here is my review.

(image from Deseret Book)

I thoroughly enjoyed Methods of Madness. I read the first chapter and then put it down (I was reading another book and wanted to give Madness my entire attention), but I wondered what would happen the entire time I wasn't reading it. The characters were real and their actions and emotions kept me interested. I will admit that I had one of the antagonist (there are two) guessed by the 3rd chapter, but the other one I totally didn't pick up on until the end. I was also slightly frustrated with the use of a knife. Staphanie used a knife as the weapon of choice in her last book Fool Me Twice, so it felt slightly redundant. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.