Tonight we went to Walmart because I had to take in a prescription for my migraine medication. I have been out for quite a while now but have put off getting it again because it is so expensive (probably not a very wise choice, I'm aware). I was prepared for the worst when I asked the pharmacist how much it would be... and for good reason. It was $434-- yes, that's four hundred thirty four dollars! She said, "Well that's what you pay cash since you don't have insurance." I told her I had insurance, gave her my card and asked if it would change the price at all. Unfortunately she had to fill the prescription to find out.
We went about shopping and I came back to pick up my prescription and guess how much it cost?! $4.00. FOUR DOLLARS! I couldn't believe it. I was nearly in tears when she told me. BYU's insurance didn't have prescription coverage and we didn't expect much better with our current insurance. What a tender mercy from the Lord! I still can't believe it!!! (Now I've got to decide how to spend my extra $430 dollars :)
Who knew these little babies could be so expensive? (or cheap?!?!) Like my mom told me, "Now you can afford to get a headache!"
I am currently blogging to avoid a paper that is due tomorrow... I can't say this is the first time that this has ever happened. But despite my lack of desire to write my paper, school is going great. It's fun and different to study dance. I like my classes and I have made some good friends too.
We've been doing fun things lately! First, we went to the GrapeFest here in Grapevine a few weeks ago. As you may have guessed, most people go for the wine (which was evident in most people's behavior while we were there...) We met up with a bunch of friends there and walked around. There are tons of shops along cute little Main Street and we also checked out a bronze sculptor's studio as well as a glass blowing studio.The entrance to the Grapefest
A very very large man... oh and a statue behind him :)
This is the group that attended Grapefest! Almost all of us are BYU graduates so we have our own little Cougartown here in Texas.
Also, we attended a Thai festival a few weeks ago! A bunch of local Thai restaurants had set up booths and were selling all sorts of interesting food. We got a bunch of different things including a funky sausage, some beef or pork that was kind of like jerky with sauce on it, some sweet crunchy noodles and fried rice. Obviously, most of it was new to us-- (it is obviously also very hard to describe). They had two different music playing in different places and that was really cool. It is amazing how different the instruments they played were from the instruments I am used to seeing. There was one that had strings laid across a wooden box that sat on the ground. The girl playing it had what looked like pieces of wheat in her hands-- a long skinny, bendable rod that had a bigger piece on the end. She would hit the strings lightly to make the strings vibrate-- it was really cool!This was a Chinese sausage... I think...
Grant was really excited about this world famous band that was supposed to play that night. By the time we had eaten and checked everything out, there were still a few hours until they played so we took off.
This is a canteloupe... amazing...
Life is good at the Tanner's-- the weather is cooling down and it's almost Halloween! We have already been decorated for about 3 weeks... wahoo!
Every Friday night is date night for the Tanners. Usually it consists of going out for dinner (the only night a week we ever do) and some sort of activity. There are about 40 restaurants just down the road from our apartment so there are always lots of options. We've been to Swaggly's (Grant's name for Spring Creek BBQ), Red Robin, CPK, Empress of China (a fabulous Chinese place we found), and Olive Garden in addition to multiple hole-in-the-wall family restaurants (these are our favorite).
This Friday we had a hard time deciding where to go-- nothing sounded all that appetizing. So we decided to try something new-- a date night experiment. We took the money we would normally spend at a restaurant and divided it up. First, we each got 6 dollars to spend at any store we wanted. I went to JoAnn Fabrics for some home-y type things. Grant quickly learned that if he didn't limit my time we would have spend all evening in that one store... so I got fifteen minutes. There weren't too many options for home decorating under 6 dollars so I got some Thanksgiving crafts. They were foam and cheesy... but fun.
This is my exciting turkey headband. I know, I know... I look exactly like the Indians from the first Thanksgiving dinner....
Grant went to Academy Sports and knew exactly what he wanted, thus no time limit. He got grip tape for his tennis racquet and we were out of there!
We decided that 5 dollars would go towards a 5 dollar movie at Target. Sometimes we go to movies on date night but we liked the idea that we actually had something to show for our money this time. We got Superman Returns.
Last, we had dinner! Inspired by a Letsinger Family tradition, we went to Walmart (so classy) and each were allowed 3 dollars for dinner and 1 dollar for dessert. We both got some chicken from the deli place ($1), a banana(.11), a yogurt (.50) and string cheese(.25). In addition, Grant got an apple(.50), I got a mini pumpkin pie (.50) and we split a day old loaf of French bread (.90) and a bag of frozen waffle cut fries ($2). We checked out at exactly $7.93. Nice! As I'm writing this, I realize that Grant didn't get a dessert... That would be typical-- Grant choosing to forgo sweets while I eat a tiny dessert (or tons of dessert...) that still manages to fill my daily fat and sugar intake in one bite...
We came home, watched our movie and ate our dinners. It was really fun and sadly, exciting to be forced to spend money. I tend to be really good at saving and not so good at spending...(even when I need to).
These are two of my best friends, Kyle and Stephanie Atwood. They are married and that's the best. I didn't get to be there but looking at these pictures makes me smile so I decided to spread the joy. So enjoy. And smile.
P.S. These pictures were stolen from Steph's sister Jody... I didn't ask permission... hopefully she forgives me...
How can you NOT smile when you see that :) Though, I suppose you didn't spend half of your lives with these two like me...
Tomorrow will be my 17th annual first day of school. Can you believe that? This summer was the longest amount of time I had been out of school since Kindergarten. Tomorrow I begin graduate school and I have all of those typical first day feelings. Excited to be in class again. Excited for new opportunities. Anxious because I don't know what to expect. Nervous about the work load and scheduling my time.
I will be pursuing a Masters of Arts at Texas Woman's University. It is a two year program and is a kind of "create your own program" degree. There are set classes in the dance department that are required but I also have freedom to take graduate level courses from many different departments if I choose. I don't know exactly what my focus will be yet-- I can find a way to use study history along side dance or I could venture out and study something new. Studying dance and film or dance and photography would be interesting and there is also an option to work with the education department and get certified to teach. It will be a great opportunity to explore my interests and how I can combine them with my love of dance.
Meanwhile, I will still be teaching dance at the studio in the evenings. It is hard not to be home in the evenings but I love teaching at the studio as well and it allows me to pay for my degree without student loans so that is good. Grant is very encouraging and helps me to "fly in the direction of my dreams" as President Hinckley put it.
As a last note, this week we have had amazing weather! I never knew that low 90's could feel so cool. It is starting to feel a bit more like fall (even though I know the heat will inevitably be back soon), and we are excited for the time when we can go on a nice leisurely walk without coming home all sweaty.
Kelsey and I just got back from our second vacation of the month to Austin, TX. Two vacations in one month: San Antonio and now Austin. Not too bad. If only the budget could always afford two vacations in the same month. But Austin was awesome! We went with our good friends Logan and Emily Mallory. We had a blast. Technically, we drove down there to see...
WICKED
It was a GREAT show. It was funny, exciting, and the music was incredible. The wicked witch Elphaba had played the role on Broadway; she was incredible. As a matter of fact, the entire cast was really good. It was a great Friday night performance.
We spent the rest of the weekend getting to know Austin. If you have to move to Texas, move to Austin. It is definitely the best part of Texas that I have seen. It is the"hill country." It was quite refreshing to see hills. It is like the Boulder, Colorado, of Texas. There are lots of hippies, granola, outdoorsie type people with lots of fun things to do. We did some hiking, shopping, and went to several really cool restaurants.
Saturday night we ate at this place called The Oasis. The picture of the lake (above) was taken from our table at the restaurant. This place sits over Lake Travis and seats 2500 people at a time. It was absolutely HUGE. It was a really cool place. We enjoyed watching the sun go down over the lake with good food and great company. This weekend trip was a definite success.
Can you believe it was a whole year ago when we got married? Time really does fly when you're having fun, but most of all, when you spend it with your best friend. Yesterday was our one year anniversary!
Grant surprised me with a trip to San Antonio to celebrate! It was the first trip we've been on with just the two of us since our honeymoon and it was amazing!
Our hotel was downtown so we walked most places. We ate along the riverwalk, visited the Alamo, saw lots of cool buildings (as shown here), and checked out the artisans' market. I could walk around those places for hours but it only entertains Grant for about one. There's a river north of the city that we were going to float but the line for tubes was about 2 hours. Instead, we just jumped in and swam it instead. We decided it turned out to be more fun swimming anyway. It was a quick trip but just the break that we needed.
And in reference to our anniversary, it has honestly been the best year of my life so far. Grant and I have done lots of little things this year. We've cooked dinners, learned how to budget, and adjusted to sharing space on a (not so big) bed and in (not so big) apartments. But this year has also been filled with big events and changes. We graduated from college, moved across the country and started on our journey to becoming the kind of family we are striving to be. I can't believe I was so lucky to find the man who not only is perfect for me, but loves me just as much as I love him. I can't wait for all the years to come!
We met on a hike, got engaged on a hike, got married (not on a hike), and are now hiking together through life! Recently turned Coloradoan, we welcomed Tanner #3, Will, in July.
Yup, we're members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka Mormons). Learn why.
