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.

Cookies, 51 Balloons and a Cold Night!

It has been a very long time since I blogged and it has been a very interesting week...this could be a very long blog as well...so be prepared. To start off...I am done being an Activities person and thank goodness!!!! The Valentine's party went pretty well but I am glad it is done. This calling has been a great learning experience and I hope to never have it again:) (unless I have a lot of time and money to do whatever I want). I was feeling sad that Todd and I wouldn't be able to go down to Utah to get cookies with our names on it from Debbie so we decided to make our own. It was fun and Todd makes some good sugar cookies. We had fun decorating them and especially eating them. We made two batches and they were all gone by Thursday :) (we did give one plate to a neighbor).

So...Friday I got a call from my dad saying he was in the hospital. He was having some chest pains at work and after my uncle's whole ordeal, he went to the hospital to check it out. Apparently if you go to the hospital and complain of chest pains, they don't let you go. He stayed over night and they did some tests on Saturday. The Doctor told him he needed to medication, go on diet and exercise. I am now my parents drill sergeant. I went grocery shopping for them and I am calling them everyday to make sure they are working out and eating well. Well back to Valentine's. Saturday I surprised Todd at work with a gigantic balloon, and some chocolate dipped strawberries. The balloon was huge, it could have taken Olivia away into the sky. Sadly, the balloon did not last long. Todd put it outside of the store and the balloon went on to balloon heaven :(. Saturday night, after Todd and I got back from Avatar (Todd loves that movie and wants an Avatar), I walked into our bedroom to find 50 balloons and of course some chocolate. It looked so fun and reminded us both of UP. It was cute and I have a cute husband.

As Facebook said, Todd and I did go camping. But our campground was...

Our living room!

I had yet to use the tent we got for our wedding so we decided to go camping. We turned off the lights, and turned down the heat. We played with balloons, made some hot cocoa, played some card games, played the guitar around the fire and fell asleep rather early:) It was a fun night but not a fun sleeping night. The floor was hard and it was so cold, I think I am a little sick, but that I guess is what you get for being silly and romantic. Well that is our week in a nutshell. I loved spending my third Valentine's Day with Todd....he is a keeper and I love him dearly!

The New Year

Well hello everyone, fancy seeing you here... So I decided I needed to update the blog but there really isn't that much to update about. Our Christmas season was amazing and we had a great time with our family. Mexico was awesome, I am so glad that I can say that my in-laws are some of my best friends. Todd and I look forward to the next vacation:). On my side of the family; my superman uncle has pulled through from his heart attack and is now back at home with his family where he should be. Todd and I are so blest to have an amazing family who are all so strong. So far our semester in school is going pretty well. Todd seems to be a little more busy with all his school and his SRC stuff but I think he loves to be busy. I on the other hand, am not busy. My new job is nice and easy and it is fun to work with all the teachers. I talked Todd into getting me a dog for my graduation present:) Since we might do APX again this summer Todd thinks I need a friend at home...so I get a puppy...yippy!! Don't worry, a dog wont be replacing a baby, but until that time comes...Guss will be my little buddy (Guss will be his name, it's all planned out). Oh Todd is doing great on his diet, he is down 10lbs. He is a pretty determined guy and I am really proud of him, I wish I had that much determination. Well I guess that is it...not much...but thats our life:) (oh we babysat Eliza last night...so cute and can I just say Todd will make the cutest father someday) Well the end...goodbye