San Jose, California

Now that our news is "official" and Steven has accepted a job offer, I can finally announce that after Steven graduates we are moving to San Jose, California! He has been interviewing for jobs in San Jose at all of the big accounting firms, and he will be working at Ernst & Young.

In accounting, it is crazy, but you have to pick a place and interview for jobs a year before you graduate. I am so grateful that we know that Steven has a great job lined up, especially with jobs being scarce right now. I will brag a little bit about how amazing he is, because he got multiple job offers, and all of the firms told him that he was a top recruit. Here is a picture of Steven reading his E&Y offer with his "Paige, why are you taking a picture of this?" smile:

Now, I am genuinely thrilled and excited about our adventure. However, I never thought that I would live in California and this definitely wasn't in the plans. In fact, we had all of the applications submitted to apply for Calgary, so we could live by my family. However, we kept finding out difficult things about transferring our education across the border, and as much as my heart wanted to go, we both knew that it wasn't right (at least not now... I still have hopes for the future). So, with one day left before applications became final, we felt good about San Jose and switched all of the applications. I feel at peace and I know that it is the right thing for us, but it is definitely a scary unknown. I am moving to a place where I have never been, and I will know probably about three people. Some of the main things that I am so excited for are-

• Amazing weather. Not way hot, but sunny and warm almost year round. Yes!
• Tons of fun stuff to do really close: San Fransisco, the beach, amusement parks, everything.
• Great for Steven's career: He will be in auditing and E&Y does Google, Facebook, HP, Apple, pretty much all the big technology names.
• The church is strong and there are a lot of other young couples there.
• My sister will be living in LA and so we sorta have family close.
• 

Some things that I am way not excited for are-

• Not being really close to any family. I know that this will be hard. I love family!
• Expensive!!! We won't be improving our standard of living from the student life at all. Everything, especially housing is so expensive.

The good outweigh the bad and we are excited. Moving is still over a year away, but it does feel like the Provo student chapter of our lives is coming to a close. I love to plan ahead and so the saying, "Life happens when you are busy making other plans" has always been hard for me. This was not in the plans, but I am learning that life is definitely an adventure that you have to take as it comes!

The life of a sugar mama...

I have been thinking lately that I really need to update our blog and make it a little more interesting. But, we have been really busy lately and most of that has just been work and school. Honestly, not that interesting. But, since this is my life, here are a few tidbits of what I am up to every day:

Here is a pictures of the girls that I work with in the "basement." Our office has three floors. The auditors are on the top, the partners and support staff are in the middle, and the tax department is in the basement. I actually really like it. And not just because the break room is also in the basement and so when they bring in treats, we are the first to get them.

One of my favorite parts about what I do is really helping people. We have so many clients that do not understand money, taxes, or finances at all, and I get to help them. That makes all of the years of school and hard work worth it. I also love figuring out hard problems and feeling like a real professional.

One of my least favorite parts about my job is tracking time. Yes, we have to "bill" our time in 15 minute increments. Crazy, eh? I understand the purpose, because even my billable rate is $80/hour (I wish I made that...) and we need to make sure that we are being accurate with how much we charge. It is helpful to stay productive, but it drives me nuts!

And.. for some good news: I took my last CPA exam on October 29th and I finished the two state exams this last week. I don't know if I passed yet, but if I did, then I AM SO DONE!!!! It feels great to work so hard for something and to finally reach my goal.

Life is Good.

Barnes & Noble "Date"

Tonight for FHE, Steven and I had what we have come to call our "Barnes & Noble" date. After a stressful day at work and school, we actually really love to visit the bookstore. Now, we never buy anything. We pretty much consider the bookstore to be like the library with really cushy chairs, nice music, and the books have to stay. I think that this date tradition is pretty funny, because when we arrive it always goes something like this:

Paige- I head straight to the magazine rack and usually pick up a few of these....

Steven: Steven wanders around for awhile and usually ends up reading either some book on computer programming, or most often picks up one of these:

After we have looked at everything, I then usually proceed to spend the next 20 minutes trying to find Steven amongst the tall bookcases and throngs of people. Then, we go home. Our "date" doesn't involve much interaction with each other, but it is still a fun part of our life.

I think that one of my best memories of going to Barnes & Noble is when we accidentally showed up the night of the "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" release party. I've never seen Steven so uncomfortable. While he hid in the corner for a while, I saw the movie preview, gawked at all the teenagers dressed as vampires, and laughed at those of all ages wearing "Team Edward" t-shirts. I guess you never can know what will happen at Barnes & Noble....

Yummy Pasta & Fall Fun

We have started doing a weekly dinner switch with Jeremy and Kedra (we cook one week and they cook the next.) Last Friday we had delicious sweet potato burritos, and yesterday we made Pasta Fresca. I don't consider myself a top-notch chef, and so I don't usually share recipes, but this one was so good. Steven and I love to eat at Noodle & Company, and this recipe is taken from one of their dishes. It tastes really close too... so if you are looking for a crowd-pleaser, give it a try!

NOODLES & CO. PASTA FRESCA

Sauté Instructions:
In a very hot sauté pan, add:
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 cups pre-cooked farfalle (bow-tie pasta)
1/4 cup cubed roma tomatoes
1 tbs. diced red onions
2 shakes of kosher salt & cracked pepper

Sear noodles, stirring occasionally until steaming hot

Add:
1 oz. baby fresh spinach
1 oz. fresca sauce (recipe below)
Toss to combine, serve with freshly shaved parmesan cheese

FRESCA SAUCE:
(for 15 servings)
1/4 cup fresh garlic
2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sweet white wine (we omitted the wine and it turned out just great)
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

On another note, we have really been enjoying Fall again in Provo. We were able to go hiking last weekend and see all of the pretty leaves. Steven also took an impressive picture of the sunrise on his way to work yesterday morning. We have a great view of the mountains from outside of our apartment.

How time flies...

I was just thinking the other day how it has now been five years since Steven and I met. Life is funny. Time can seem so short and so long at the time time. On the one hand, I still feel like the 18-year-old girl I was when we first met. On the other hand, I feel like I have known Steven my whole life. The past five years have brought both challenges and exciting times for us. While I am on a nostalgic note, here are some highlights:

- Meeting at a mutual friends house. He thought I was a big flirt. I was impressed by how smart he was.

- The first time that we went to Las Vegas together with a group of friends. He kissed me for the first time on the hammock outside of his parents house. He said, "I like you" and I said, "you just kissed me, you better."

- Despite both of our best intentions, falling in love when we knew that he would be gone on a mission for the next two years.

- 208 letters. 104 each. We both wrote every single week for two years. But if anybody ever tells me that I "waited" for him, I get grumpy. I did a lot while he was gone. We were just really in love.

- Seeing him again for the first time in two years. This part wasn't perfect. He went to the wrong airport terminal. When I got off my flight and he wasn't there, it took all of my self-control not to burst into tears when the moment I had been waiting for for two years was nothing like I imagined.

- Getting engaged..... and getting married. Life really is better when you spend it with your best friend. I can honestly say that life being married to Steven is even better than I ever thought my life could be. So, I love you Steven. 5 years is nothing.... here's to 50 more....

Viva Bike Vegas

We are in Las Vegas right now. I am up early and Steven (and the rest of the Foote Family) are still sleeping. We are in Las Vegas because yesterday Steven rode in Viva Bike Vegas! Ever since Steven started road biking about 7 years ago, he has wanted to ride in a "century" which is 100 miles in one day. I am so proud of him because he accomplished his goal and then some. Viva Bike Vegas was a 118-mile ride with lots of hills, heat, and hard work.

The race had a 118-mile ride and a 62-mile ride. Steven rode the first 62 miles with his brother, Tyler, and they had a great time riding together. Go team Foote! Dave, Steven's dad, was also able to come ride out the last 30 miles with Steven for moral support. All and all, it was a great day, and something that Steven was grateful he could share with his dad and his brother.I also had a fun time. The Foote family girls made posters for support and we met them at multiple rest stops along the way for encouragement. We also were able to enjoy some of the beautiful weather by hiking out at Red Rock.
I still can't believe that Steven rode so far. 118 miles = a long way. Congrats Steven! We are all so proud of you!

Bonnie

For those of you who don't know my beloved family pet, Bonnie, here is an introduction: Bonnie is a cocker spaniel/American Eskimo cross and she has been in our family since I was 8. Which means that at 15, she is a pretty old dog. However, she still looks like a puppy and she is the cutest dog I have ever seen. Bonnie is definitely a member of the family, and I came across a couple videos of her doing "tricks" about a year ago. For an old dog, she still does pretty well. I sound really annoying, so ignore me, but look at my adorable dog!