A Splash of Color!

Howdy! Todd and I had the blessed opportunity to once again venture down to Utah this past weekend. We had a great time with friends and family. Last year when I was in a Spirituality in the Arts class, we took a field trip down to the Hindu Temple in Spanish Fork. The monk (or whatever they call them) told us of this celebration called the Festival of Colors. It sounded so fun and I love celebrating colors. I wanted to go last year but we ended up not going. This weekend we were able to go down and we had a blast. We went down with Britnee, Keegan, Alycia and Chris. As soon as we got there we bought the colored chalk and started having chalk fights. At one o'clock everyone was suppose to throw their chalk up in the air. Once we did this, you couldn't see a thing, it was very odd. Your eyes were open but all you saw was brown. It was also very hard to breathe but in the end it was so worth it. It was a lot of fun and might become an Altom tradition (although I'm thinking of just doing our own mini celebration at our home).

As of right now I only have seven more days left of school. It is crazy to think that I will be getting a bachelors and I wont be going back to school when we come back to Rexburg. It really does not seem that four years has past, I don't feel old enough to graduate from college. I'm very, very excited to graduate but at the same time it is kind of sad. I love going to school and being busy but soon I wont have school or school work to keep me busy; it will be a weird feeling. The semester is wrapping up quick. I have a couple presentations and tests left and then I am done. I might not get a 4.0 like I hoped for, two classes hang in the balance of A vs. A-, but I did get a 100% in a class so thats exciting and I think that's a good accomplishment. Todd I believe will be getting A or A-'s so he has done well this semester as well. We are starting to pack up our little apartment for our move to Indianapolis. It is very sad because I am boxing up things for the rest of the year. I love adventures and I am sure the rest of the year will bring many, but I'll miss my things, my family and my friends. I went back today to my old apartment that I lived in before I was married and it made me realize that I'm all grown up. I'm graduation college and moving far from home...it came a little too fast...well I guess it's baby time (it seems like the next best logical thing to do). Well thats it for now....bu bye

March Days!

Well I guess it is about time I update our blog...although Todd does an amazing job and he should do it for us:). Anywho, we have had a couple great weeks in good ole March. We were able to go down to Utah last, last weekend and help Brian and Shelly move into their cute new apartment. Shelly's food storage put mine to shame!!! We also celebrated Todd's birthday with family and he got his cookie dough ice cream cake that he has wanted for so long. I think Todd enjoyed being with his family for his birthday and it was so nice for everyone to show up, because I know everyone was busy, so thanks!

I feel like these two have the same expression..."A picture? Again?"

Ahh the cute engaged couple...Congrats you two!

The next day we got to celebrate Miss Liv. It was Olivia's blessing and it was so good. Craig did a great job, Olivia was so happy and content and Jac made a very cute blessing dress for Liv. There little family is so cute and we are so happy to have all three of them in our lives. For St. Patrick's Day (we were inspired by the Lowe's) we made green crepes. They looked kind of gross but they were good:) Todd and I talked about how we want to make every food green when we have kids, like green milk, potatoes, eggs and ham:). I'm glad Todd lets me act like a little kid a lot:), he'll be a great dad someday.

Todd's real birthday was Thursday and he had a great day. First off he only went to one class. He decided he would stay home from his classes and watch the BYU game, thankfully they won. That game was probably the highlight of his birthday. That night I made his favorite, BBQ baby back ribs! I have to say I'm a pretty good rib maker (thanks mom for teaching me). Todd wanted cupcakes for his birthday and since he was turning 24, it worked out perfectly. The sad thing is I think we eat more when they are cupcakes, they were all gone by Friday:). We did have some people over to help us eat them, but they were pansies and we had to finish them all. We also forced one of our friends to let us give him a haircut. Todd and I love to give haircuts, but I'm the one with the real talent:), haha. It was fun but his hair got everywhere. With our powers combined we gave him a pretty darn good haircut and for no charge.

Yeah, I know, they don't look the same...

Altom Hair Services

This next week will be a busy one for school. I have finally reached the point where I just want to be done and I don't care anymore (but really I do). And now that Todd said I am trying to get a 4.0 I feel like I have to live up to that which equal more pressure!!! As of right now I have a 4.0 but anything can change, especially when I have a dumb class like Philosophy. Todd, Todd has nothing, I hardly ever see him do homework so hopefully he is doing good, which I'm sure he is. Well thats our life. We are excited to come back down this weekend for the Festival of Colors and hopefully we have a lot of fun pictures to post. Until we meet again, farewell!

Todd's version of an update.

Todd here, and I'm sitting at the computer and it is 11:09 at night. If you know anything about Ashleigh she is in bed snoozing away right now. She prefers to sleep an average of 9+ hours per night. Me on the other hand, I prefer 7-8 hours. Sometimes I go to bed with her and can't sleep for an hour or so. This is the reason why I am writing on the blog.

I'll give a quick update on what is going down in the house of Altom. First, Ashleigh has only 30 more days until she graduates and it couldn't be a day too soon. Her goal is to get a 4.0 GPA to end her career as a student. I think she can do it. I believe in her!

I'm still chugging away at this semester taking some random courses. I have Chinese, an Entrepreneurship class, New Testament, and Web Design (check out my website: toddaltom.com) . After this I should only have one semester left plus an internship.

Ashleigh has taken a part time job in the office of the Child and Family Education yada yada yada department office (or something like that), where she works as an office assistant. She seems to like it except she has to be to school at 8 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Again, back to the sleep thing... she enjoys it.

On the 18th of the month I will be turning 24 years of age. By reflecting back on what choices that have brought me to this point of life, I can't help but feel grateful for the Holy Ghost. I'm grateful for past experiences that have taught me to recognize the promptings of the Spirit. Specifically, I think of my decision to come to BYU-Idaho. When I was younger I remember Brian and Craig both coming to this school. They both came back home listening to country music, which seemed so odd to me. I felt then that I would never want to come to this school. I didn't want to live in Idaho. I didn't want to live in a small town. Towards the end of my mission I was accepted here and really debated not coming here. With the encouragement of Mom and Craig, I decided to give it a try, but always felt I would transfer to BYU. Mostly through a confirming feeling that the spirit gave me, I made my decision to come here.

What do you know it, the first day of school I met someone very special. Here name was Ashleigh. Later I told Craig that Ashleigh is totally the type of girl I wanted to marry.

The promptings of the Holy Ghost allowed me to eventually run into the love of my life. But even better, if you ask Ashleigh, she was fully decided to go to USU. But a prompting told her to stay in Idaho and come to school here. I'm grateful for Ashleigh and her willingness to listen to the Spirit.

I didn't mean for this update to become a testimony; however, I am grateful for the events that have brought me to Rexburg. And now, I listen to country music. I love Ashleigh and am so glad to be here husband. She is the perfect woman to shape me into the man I need to be. When I think of her, I often think of a talk given by President Hinckley entitled: "The Women in Our Lives".

There is a specific quote in here when President Hinckley begins the talk:

"My brethren and sisters, at the outset, if you will bear with me, I wish to exercise a personal privilege. Six months ago, at the close of our conference, I stated that my beloved companion of 67 years was seriously ill. She passed away two days later. It was April 6, a significant day to all of us of this Church. I wish to thank publicly the dedicated doctors and wonderful nurses who attended her during her final illness.

My children and I were at her bedside as she slipped peacefully into eternity. As I held her hand and saw mortal life drain from her fingers, I confess I was overcome. Before I married her, she had been the girl of my dreams, to use the words of a song then popular. She was my dear companion for more than two-thirds of a century, my equal before the Lord, really my superior. And now in my old age, she has again become the girl of my dreams."

I hope to progress in love just as he and she did.

Now, I have began to ramble. So, I'm going to go to bed to be with the girl of my dreams.