This one's for you, Kristy Lynn Phelps Tibbs!

I suppose it was only a matter of time before I gave in and did one of these...

What are your middle names? Bernece and Douglas... I'll let you guess which belongs to who...
How long have you been together? Around 4 years
How long did you know each other before you started dating? It took me 2 and 1/2 years to convince him he wanted to date me.
Whose siblings do you see the most? Probably mine just because they're more mobile.
Do you have any children together? Not yet...
What about pets? I want a cat really bad but John's allergic.
Did you go to the same school? Same college.
Where do you eat out most as a couple? Anywhere we have a coupon for! Or Jack in the Box.
Where is the furthest you have ever traveled as a couple? For Christmas one year we drove from St. Louis to Orem. There was a big blizzard in Colorado though, so we had to take the long way around. Turned into a 32 hour drive... I was behind the wheel for all of 4 hours...
Who does the cooking? Rachel does most of the cooking unless John is in the mood. He is a really good cook and enjoys it but school has just taken up too much of his time.
Who is more social? We're both pretty social - we love hanging out with our friends. But I would have to say John is more social just because I get in moods where I just want to stay home and I don't think John ever feels that way.
Who is the neat freak? I like things to be neat but I hate cleaning so John is sometimes the one who has to say something...
Who is the most stubborn? John. No. Contest.
Who wakes up earlier? Rachel. No. Contest.
Where was your first date? IHOP - John had his waiter friend make me a napkin flower.
Do you get flowers often? I have gotten flowers three times in the 6 years I've known John, including the napkin flower.
Who sings better? Rachel, but only because John is so shy about singing. He actually has a great tenor voice but doesn't like people to know it...
Who does the laundry? Rachel - laundry is my nemesis.
Who is better with the computer? John - electrical engineer, you know. (Actually the two are only somewhat connected, but everyone thinks he knows more than he really does.)
Who drives when you are together? John - he gets nervous when I drive which makes me nervous.
Who picks where you go to dinner? Neither of us. We have the hardest time deciding where to go so the choice is usually made based on coupons in the drawer or friends we're going with.
Who is the first one to admit when they are wrong? Usually me, but John has had his moments.
Who wears the pants in this relationship? John. But they sure look good on him!
Who eats more sweets? Rachel. John would rather have another burger for dessert...
Who cries more? Rachel - big surprise!
What's your best day together? Sunday.
Where did you honeymoon? Park City, Johnson Mill, and Keystone, CO. We had a week in between 2 receptions so we did some traveling.
Favorite date night? I have a lot of favorites because John is really good about making time for me. I like going to baseball games together - John loves it and I like them because they're so relaxing.
Favorite TV show to watch together? Frasier
I tag: Whoever wants to volunteer!

New Apartment Happiness

Here are the pictures of our new apartment as previously promised. The first is our second bedroom, which I have setup as my writing room. All the office boxes are neatly stacked in the closet so the room looks really spacious. The next picture is of our bedroom but it doesn't show the lovely walk-in closet with all the extra space I can't fill up. So great. The last picture is the throne room. We are in the handicap-accessible apartment so this bathroom is HUGE. I don't know how to even begin decorating it so that it doesn't feel so cavernous.

This is home for at least the next 10 months and I love it!

Lights in Las Vegas

The weekend before John started school while Mom and Dad Zincke were here we took a trip to Vegas. Steve and Jessica happened to be there the same weekend, too, so we had fun hanging out with them. We walked the strip, watched the fountain show at the Bellagio, stayed at the Stratosphere, had breakfast at Palace Station, and then saw more of the hotels. Things sure have changed in the last three years since we were there last and they will change even more when the City Center opens by the end of this year. It looks to be pretty impressive, too, so we might have to plan another trip back! And now, the pictures:

Catchin' Up

We are finally settle back into the swing of things, I think. John's already bogged down with school work and this week has been up and down for me at work. The best part is that we have a new home! I haven't taken pics yet, but I'll post them soon.

Meanwhile, here are some pics of our end-of-summer adventures. Mom and Dad Woodbury came to see us in CA and we went to Sea World - my favorite!

Grandma Tripp came with us, too, and we all had a great time watching Shamu, seeing the flamingos, dolphins, sharks, and the cute little VW Shamu Beetle! (I can't make these look good...)

We also had Mom and Dad Zincke come out for a visit. They helped us move and I really couldn't have done it without them. Then we went to Vegas and took some awesome pictures which I will post shortly. This is just a teaser.

The Battle Commences

John had his appointment with the apartment manager lady today and went in fully armed with documentation and plenty of support to back his case. Problem was, the surprise was ruined and she saw him coming. So she went on the offensive right away and didn't give John a chance to even speak his piece. When he did get a word in edgewise she wouldn't listen and maintained the position that she was right despite the fact that she was in direct opposition to the law. It was like a smack in the face when she handed him the 30 day notice to vacate.

So I get a call from John while I'm at work and he says "we're movin" which I thought was a joke at first since we've been saying that for a month. Then I freaked out when I realized he was serious as he told me this story. Fortunately by this time he had already been out and seen a couple of other complexes and had an idea of what was out there. He picked me up from work and we went to see a place that is closer to campus, way nicer, way bigger, and much newer. Plus, they were running a deal right now so the rent was great. So we have an application in and we'll hear from them tomorrow.

So, you ask, who is the victor? One could say the manager witch, I mean lady, wins because we are in fact vacating the premises. Or, as I am choosing to see it, we win because we don't have to stay in a place that neither of us really liked, we don't ever have to see her ugly face again, and she lost a tenant that paid on time and kept the place nice because she was belligerent and rude right from the start. Yeah, the only cookies she's getting from me will be thrown through her window. You decide who you think wins. But I'll tell you what, I cannot wait to move into this new place because it is luxury after this hole!

You Complete Me

Yes, I am complete once again with my other half home with me from California. I flew out last Thursday and we stared packing up John's stuff and cleaning the room and bathroom he was living in this summer. John was glad to be done, but he had a good internship experience.

My parents actually came in to town on Friday night to start their anniversary vacation. We met up with them and had dinner together which was so much fun! I've missed them the last couple of weeks so it was nice to catch up.

Saturday morning we woke up, packed, and loaded up the car. We said goodbye to Sue, who has been just great this summer, and headed off to my Grandma's house to meet up with Mom and Dad again. Then the 5 of us drove down to San Diego and spent 5 wonderful sun-filled hours at Sea World. It was crowded and hot, but it was so much fun, too! At least, I thought so. We didn't do any of the rides and just went to the shows and animal exhibits. I will admit that the Shamu show brought tears to my eyes - I love those whales! Then we got to go see my Uncle Dale and Aunt Teri and visit them in their new house which is just beautiful.

Sunday we had a lovely waffle breakfast that Grandma made us and got to go to church together. We came home and had some dinner then John and I had to leave to drive home to Arizona. The drive was uneventful, which I think is the best kind.

I'm so glad to have John home again - it made it easier to get through the day and I was so excited to come home! So welcome home, honey!

Apartment Update & Other Fun

So we are just a few days away from signing our renewal contract to stay at our apartment complex. And John has been furiously researching and making calls about this program that supposedly says they will kick us out if we make over a certain amount. Let me just tell you, this is war.

John has found out that not only did the apartment manager lie to us on several occasions in this whole situation, we could sue her for the things she's told us. John has all the supporting legal documents and policies which he will bring when we go to sign the contract. And I don't know if I want to be there because it's going to be rather awkward. But John's excited... The manager is just lucky we're not litigious people or she'd be in real trouble. As it is, I think I might make her cookies just to ease the sting a little.

The lessons I've learned from this is to always be as honest as you can, don't be afraid to say you don't know, and be careful when dealing with people because you just never know who you might be offending.

On a fun note, I discovered this blog last week and it made me so happy. First, because I love baking and cakes, and second, because it is freakin' hilarious. Check out Cake Wrecks.

On an even better note, John has only a few more days to go at his internship and I'll be bringing him home with me this weekend. It's almost over! Yay!

And then I think about all the things I was going to do while John was gone and realize that I haven't done hardly any of them... but I'd rather have him home. I will be a happy wife next week.