Lately...

Spring!

Pittsburgh houses have such potential.  James and I talk about buying a house that is a fixer-upper like this one all the time!

Here is a superficial glance at the house.

This house was so cool.  A lady from across the street noticed us looking at it and let us in on a little secret.  The house was just bought by a development company for $6,000!  This house in top shape is worth at least $150,000.  That's on the upper scale for Pittsburgh.  James and I were dumb-founded about buying a house for $6,000 and then fixing it up.

This is a house fixed up.

Oh, the brick streets!  The bright red ones are the best.

Have you ever watched "American Pickers" on the History Channel?  Well if you have, you would know why James is "picking". 

I just love how the tree consumes the sidewalk.

Another work trip: the Zoo!  I LOVE PENGUINS! I was in heaven!

Social Workers at work.  These are our "cleaning outfits" because lets just say you don't want to know what we have to clean up in a hoarder's room.  I don't prefer this part of the field.  My supervisors even wear sweats most of the time because of the all the cleaning they have to do.

Like my new accessories?

After last Fall's General Conference disaster with the Waite Cinnamon Roll Tradition, we opted for Utah Scones.  James has mastered the art of frying things.

Can I say dumb animal? She has been OBSESSED with the herbs I bought.  And, I've had to bring them inside because it's cold again.  James likes to tease her by putting them in her reach, but yet out of her reach.  She will follow where ever they go and then meow to the extreme point of annoyance.  Here she is trying to eat the rosemary.

My cute herbs.  I hope they survive.  I hope I have my father's green thumb.

Waiting in line to get in the Cathedral of Learning is not fun.  Just in case you didn't know, Pitt has been having an insane amount of bomb threats.  Now the students have to show ID and have their bags checked before they enter a building.  I only have 2 weeks left of school.  I'm thrilled to soon be done with the chaos.

Recently...

Construction season is upon us. I'm actually very grateful for this because all James talks about are the projects he wants to do. He even went to the library and found carpentry books so that he can make furniture. He is in a slow process with my brother to start a website and start his small business.

James will be adding doors to our bookcase.

Lazy Sunday afternoons bring sunshine! For those who have lived with me outside of the state of California know that I will sit (and I guess you can call it meditate) while absorbing any sunshine I can get. Here we are lying on the floor feeling the sunshine through the windows.

The "child" keeps us entertained while licking any morsel of smoothie she can reach.

I didn't really give James much of a heads up when I told him what we were about to watch...

I had a "blonde" moment and was wondering why there was so much commotion outside the theater... And THEN realized it was all for the show.

Better legs than most women... and the heels! Oh gosh!

By the way, if you haven't seen the show, you should. Or, watch "The Birdcage".

What work and a Pitt ID will get you... Free admission to the Phipps Conservatory and Gardens. I've taken the role as the event planner for the clients at my internship. I'm trying to get them to be active participants of the community. I wrote out some donation letters and this is one of the "freebies" I got for the clients.

I've been anxious to go, but sadly wasn't too impressed. I could walk out to by parent's backyard and see most of what I saw. :)

Good news report: I got the internship that I wanted for my 2nd year Field Placement. I will be working at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program. Wow, that's a mouth full. To abbreviate: WPIC OCD IOP (like that makes any more sense)... The even better news is that if I do well there and there is a spot for me, I will have a job at the end of it.
To give a heads up about what I will be doing there... Intakes, shadowing group therapy or individual therapy... and then... doing it on my own.... Eek!

Even better, better news: It's been in the 70's all week! I love warm weather! Please stay!

Blah...

Mental Health....Mental Health....Mental Health...
My life is consumed by this concept right now.
One of the things that I funny about owning this book as a SW student is that in the state of PA, we aren't allowed to diagnosis people, but yet I'm learning how to do it.
And....by the time I graduate, the 5th edition will be released.

Must stay on towel...Must not touch warm radiator.

I give up.

The weather has been great for Pittsburgh. We've had one real winter storm and then the snow was gone two days later.

Sorry, that I have nothing to blog about, but in my defense, it's January and nothing goes on in this month.

Home(s)

WTF Laura? It's pie crust and it's sitting underneath the radiator to warm up to "room temperature".

We were away from this feline for little under a month and yes Mom and Dad, we missed her.
A shout out to the Stephensons' for watching her while we were gone!

At the MSW holiday party

Our "on a budget" wrapping. James already knew what he was getting and I really just didn't have time to wrap so it sat in a plastic bag. However, James used the Trader Joe's festive paper bags and colored in the design to make it look like it came that way.

To: James

To: Laura
Technically, the picture was last year's present, but James got it put onto a canvas this year.

Homesickness

Headed to Logan and was welcomed by the inversion.

The friends: Mikell, Adam, and Scott

Christy, Jon, and Tannen

President and Sister Curtis (Mission President in Australia)

Temple lights!


Megan is the 13th Waite grandchild. I love that she has the doll's pacifier in her own mouth.

James was so excited for Rock Band

Ben and Christine
Eating at one of the best places on Earth.

My homesickness.

Hotel Del Coronado


San Diego Temple
I LOVE THIS TEMPLE!

NO MATTER WHERE WE GO WE RUN INTO SOMEONE THAT JAMES KNOWS
Sister Kennington is serving her LDS mission in San Diego and is a cousin of our sister-in-law Becky


One of James' favorite movies.

Shout out to the Hein's Family!


I would prefer to live in this Wrigley Mansion.

I guess I'm all grown up...

...because this is the result of my first Thanksgiving! The whole meal was a success! This is a picture of James scrapping the pie dish. We had pie for breakfast the next day.

The outdoor ice skating rink in downtown Pittsburgh.
I guess this picture is more of the rink then of us.

Yea, for besties from high school!

Adria and Joanne
Our holiday feast-attendees


We're so in love.

The cat.
For the few out there who care.
This is one of her many perches.

My first semester is almost over!
We can't wait to head back west to see all the family!
James is SUPER excited to go to the Potato Bowl, because you know who's Aggies made it to a freaking bowl!