Joel got into...

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY 

SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY!!!

And we are ECSTATIC about it!!! It has been Joel's #1 choice since he decided to apply to dental school. We received the good news Monday, January 3rd in the morning while we were having a family breakfast before the rest of the holiday visitors went back to Utah. It was hilarious b/c we were talking with David & Emily (joel's cousin & his wife) just seconds before he received the call about how Joel could be accepted any day that week. It was serendipitous! 

So come September 21st of this year Joel will start dental school. His white coat ceremony is a few 

days before which will officially make him a BUCKEYE! 

He has mixed emotions about it due to the fact he, along with every family member on mom skousen's side, has always been a Michigan fan. I told him that he'll have to shift his allegiance to OSU but he 100% disagrees. I'm okay with him still liking Michigan but when OSU & Michigan play he cannot wear blue... he must wear scarlet & gray b/c I fully plan on it. Anyway, we agree to disagree for now. But we are super happy and feel blessed that Joel is able to further his education.

To celebrate Joel's acceptance mom & dad skousen took us to Montgomery Inn for dinner. It was delicious! I had never been but I've heard about numerous times so I'm glad I finally got to go. Joel and I shared the ribs b/c I guess that's one of their specialties...and I enjoyed it! Our waitress even put bibs on us...key word "she" put them on us! I thought it was funny.

notice how we're wearing scarlet to represent OSU?

So people have been treating to buy me a SNUGGIE for years now. I have protested of course. Yes I am constantly cold (i am like my mother) but come on...a snuggie? The name alone renders it to mockery. So due to the stupid name I am refused to own one. I mean everyone tried to buy me one: my hubby, co-workers, friends, parentals.

Due to my euphoria of Joel being accepted to Ohio State, while at bed, bath & beyond I said something which I thought I never would, "Joel, I will let you buy me a SNUGGIE if you buy this one..."

I know...but the snuggie and I were meant to be and now we're best buds! I love my snuggie!!! But there are some flaws to my new BFF therefore, I have thought of a new & improved snuggie which Joel thinks we should market as the CUDDLY!

As you can see we're already proud to be BUCKEYES and plan on making all our immediate family members get Ohio State paraphernalia. Beware family...especially you little Roran!

Joel Reuben's Birthday!

April 18, 1986 was one of the most important dates known to man... well, at least to me, Joel's family and anyone else who thinks he's amazing and the BEST! How lucky am I do have him as a hubby? I know, you don't even have to tell me... I'm the LuCKiEsT!

So Joel turned 24 years old exactly one month (b/c I started this post yesterday) ago! We had a great weekend of celebrations! Friday night we went ate at Craigo's Pizza and went bowling at the REX with some friends, Matt and Amy Maynard. It was so fun! We love bowling...even though we're both pretty HORRIBLE at it! Joel is absolutely hilarious to watch: his form, his facial expressions and the way he literally SLAMS the ball down on the lane! I know he wants some power behind his swing (or whatever it's called), but I was pretty certain the ball was going to break through the floor. Oh that hubby of mine...he is so SILLY!!!

Saturday: Joel's older sister, Janine and her family came for a visit (since they were already in Pocatello visiting her mother-in-law). It was a bLaSt!!! We love spending time with them, especially those 3 adorable children of theirs (no worry, this post is going to splattered with pics of them)! Joel made us BLT Mac N' Cheese for lunch and then we took the boys to the playground in our complex for bit. It was an overcast day, but enjoyable all the same. Oh, Nick's (our bro-in-law) little sister, Tanae, who also attends BYU-I, joined us for a fun afternoon.

After the playground we decided to take a little walk to G's Dairy... they have AMAZING ice cream! If you know me... I LOVE MY ICE CREAM! The twins, Gage & Reid, were hilarious, per usual. They sat at their own little kid table at G's Dairy and made a mess of themselves. I took some pictures (see below) but it doesn't do their ice cream covered faces JusTiCe! Especially Gage, since he had pink ice cream. After that, we just walked back to our apartment and hung out and enjoyed each other's company. We watched Danica do a dance while we sung a primary song, the twins listened to Joel play is guitar, aka: "Ta-tar", Reid was jumping on the bed and smashed his little head into the wall (that crazy/ accident prone kid) and Joel opened his b-day gifts from Janine & Nick and also my gift to him. Thanks Claysons for coming for a visit... we had a BLAST!!! (WARNING: there are a lot of pictures)

Gage climbing up the slide.

Janine & Danica

Nick & Tanae (goodness...they look so much alike)

Oh Little Reid!

Me & Reid

(assisting him down the fireman's pole)

Joel & Gage

(helping him off the monkey bars)

Joel & Me

Reid & Gage

The twins about to race down the slide! (Reid won)

Gage & Reid w/ ice cream covered faces!

(can you tell I love them?)

Princess Danica

Janine, me, Joel & the kiddos!

The Claysons!

(Thanks again for coming. We had so much fun! Love you guys!)

Sunday: the BIG B-DAY!!! We went to church, of course. Then when we got home, I started to make Joel a special b-day dinner! Steak...yams... YUMMY! Well we were having some friends over for dessert and games to celebrate Joel turning 24 and the dinner was taking so long to make (dumb yams) and I still had FRUIT PIZZA to make! So poor Joel, being the loving hubby he is, finished making his own b-day dinner! I know...I know... before you start throwing stones at me, remember it's the thought that counts & my intensions were pure. I just put too much on my plate in a short amount of time.

Anyway, we had a lot of fun with our friends that were able to make it. We ate some goodies and played the always favorite Werewolves of Millershollow! Thanks everyone for joining in the celebration! We had fun!

Joel's B-day Fruit Pizza

(so I make fruit pizza all the time...big deal)

Alex & Juan Pablo

Matt & Amy Maynard

(our friends we went bowling with)

Becca & Cory Bowen, Joel & Colby

Andrew & Cassandre Briggs

My GIFT to Joel: I planned to get this for Joel for months before his b-day b/c we both sleep horribly, due to our mattress. I got him 3" of wonderful MeMoRy FoAm MaTtReSs ToPpEr!!! He absolutely loved it... and so do I. The best gifts are the ones you know someone else will LOVE that you can also enjoy! haha! You know it's true!

Joel showing off his b-day gift

(that box was deceivingly heavy)

"Ah...this is nice!"

(Joel enjoying the memory foam topper)

Joel thinking: "My wife is awesome & gives the best presents!"