Must Read!

No, my blog isn't necessarily the must read, BUT the Twilight books are. I somehow missed out on the craze while I was in Utah, but everyone in my ward here seems to have read them. I was feeling so out of place :). If you haven't already heard of these books, let me set you straight, so you know from the beginning...they are a teenage romance about vampires. They sound odd enough, but I have become quite addicted. The author Stephenie Meyer graduated from BYU. She wrote the first novel Twilight a few years ago, and so far she has completed three of the books in the series. Just so you know, these books knocked Harry Potter off of the top spot on the New York Best-seller list.

I feel like I am confessing when I share this, but I borrowed the first one last Wednesday and was finished by Saturday. I had arranged to borrow the second one on Sunday, but I couldn't wait...so I went and bought the second one (New Moon) Saturday evening. I finished it Monday night. Yesterday I wasn't feeling so hot (long story), so I came home from work at 11:00. On my way home I purchased the 3rd one, and immediately began reading...so here is where my story takes a turn for the worse. When I was on page 178 of 629, the doorbell rang and much to my dismay, the FedEx man was standing there with a box containing my Becker CPA review course...I have devoted my ENTIRE last week to these books, but now they have a little competition! I am torn, I really want to find out what happens to my little vampire friends! Oh well, my studies can wait one more day!!!

So here is some advice for my accountant friends...don't even pick them up until the CPA exam is finished!!

We are in Chicago!

We are now here in Chicago! What a great and crazy trip we have had. It was actually amazing low stress until we got into the city of Chicago and started worrying about where we could park our massive Penske truck and trailer on the back! All worked out well though. I will write more later, but I just wanted to say that we really need to add Becca and also Marissa too. I am sure that I am forgetting people so if anyone has their address (like Mindy and others), let me know and I will invite them to join the blog. Tomorrow is my first day of work. I just transferred with Grant Thornton because their headquarters is in Chicago. I am actually standing at a kiosk right now at University of Chicago(we don't have Internet at our apartment yet) so I will write more about our new life in Chicago soon!

Long Winded

Ummm....that previous blog of mine turned out super long....don't fall asleep reading it. : )

Rise and Shout the Cougars are Out!!

I had to try and make you all think you still want to be in Provo!! I know you are all relieved, but there are some things that surely you will miss. Like their first football game. It was sold out and the stadium was pretty crazy. It was a wonderful game. So yes...I am still in Provo, but with good reason. Seth is still in school. We are planning for him to graduate next summer and then off to somewhere fun I am sure. He is currently studying hard to take the LSAT in about 2 weeks. I will admit we are both pretty nervous for it. I am trying to be a good girl and study for the CPA exam as well, but that motivation is pretty lacking at the moment. I am working in Salt Lake City, right downtown between 2nd and 3rd south and West Temple. The firm is called Wisan, Smith, Racker, and Prescott LLP. Sounds like fun huh? Well it has been going good. I started the end of June, so I have been there awhile. I have told Amanda this because we used to be bus buddies until she moved to Chicago, but I detest research. Gardner's class was so not fun for me....and guess what I have been doing tons of....RESEARCH. And you can't exactly tell the partners no, so I guess with all the practice I am actually getting better at it. I am still not very good and it will take me awhile, but so far, I have been able to finish whatever assignment they have given me. The scary thing about this firm is I just do my research and then discuss it with the partners and then they tell the client. I wish there was more review work between me and the partner. But I guess on research, that is not practical. But I have had my fair share of returns to do. Ok, so enough about accounting....we all get enough of that anyways.... : )

We have now been married a little over three months and life is great. We are loving our little apartment that is in south-west Provo. It is out in the boonies kinda by lots of farm land, so it is a great change from all the crammed life near BYU campus. I quite enjoy living out here and attending a family ward. Seth and I have the calling of teaching the 16-18 year olds Sunday School. We are surprised how wonderful this class has been, even though is it comprised of mainly boys. They are a super class and we enjoy teaching them a lot.

I have recently been more inclined to start learning more things to cook....maybe because all I feed Seth is rice and beans (which we both love) but I think it is time to get some more things on the menu. I made some orange chicken the other night and it was really good, so I am trying to learn new things to make. If any of you have good recipes, feel free to email them to me or something. I would love that.

I guess the last thing exciting I have to write about is the hike that we went on the other weekend. It was to hike to the top of Squaw Peak. The hike was inspired by Becca Haynie (which we need to get on this blog) because she had a great story that maybe she will share with everyone, but I guess for those of you who don't know where it is, you start the hike at Rock Canyon Park and then hike up the backside of the mountain and come around the face and up to the peak. Once you have reached the top, it is an amazing overlook of Utah Valley. It was pretty high. Once we finally reached the top which I was amazed we had actually hiked so high. It was a pretty steep high though, but beautiful and actually in the shade for the most part which made it more bearable. It was a great hike that I had never even heard of until Becca told me about it. It is sad I never knew about it this whole time I have been in Provo...but at least I finally got to hike it. We enjoy hiking and trying to find new and fun things to do.

Anyways....Provo is different not going to school and seeing people all the time. But that is what happens when you graduate. That is why I think this blog is a great idea. Thanks Amanda for heading it up. Hopefully we can all keep in touch and get more people involved so we can know about everyone. Anyways, hope everyone is doing good. I miss you guys! Take care!

Greetings from Indiana!

So we have been in Indianapolis for about a month now. And believe it or not, we actually quite like it! I am working at a local firm called Somerset CPAs. They have only one office, but they are quite respected in Indianapolis. I am enjoying it, BUT it is quite a change from Squire and Company. I loved it there, I am not quite to the point of love for Somerset. However, it is kind-of nice...firm policy is working 8-4:30 from May-December, I haven't had to stay longer than that yet, even with 9/17 approaching.

In other news, Kyle's parents were out here last week, so we went to the NFL season opener when the Colts (the reining SuperBowl champs!) played the Saints (where Reggie Bush plays). I will admit, I like football, but I am/wasn't the biggest NFL fan. I haven't really followed since Steve Young left the 49ers. Anyways. The game was so fun. It was hands-down the best athletic event that I have ever been to. It was such a big deal. Indianapolis LOVES the Colts, so even at my work, the day of the game was Blue Thursday when we could wear Jeans and Colts appearal. While Kyle's parents were here we also went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indy500 race is there). So now I have been there! I might convert to being a Colts fan, but I don't think I will ever convert to Nascar OR the Indy car series!!! It was fun to see though.

I will have to agree with Amanda, the CPA exam is looming over my head, and I haven't even started (that might be why it is looming..??) But I am looking at getting started soon.

Well I love and miss you all! I look forward to hearing from ALL of you on here.

P.S. Kyle and I have a personal blog in the works...so check it out Kyleandemilyc.blogspot.com
I am working on updating it and fixing the background, but haven't gotten too far, so maybe don't check for a few days!

Welcome!

Hey guys!
I decided that I would go ahead and attempt setting up a blog site for our graduating BYU accounting class of 2007. I don't know very many people's email addresses and my list of all of the accounting students is buried in one of my boxes packed for Chicago, so feel free to email our blog site to anyone who would like to join. I am kind of a first time blogger so email me at acranepope@gmail.com and I will add you on so you can also post. If anyone knows an easier way also let me know! It will be fun to keep up with everyone and hear how everyone is doing.
As for me we have been living in three different homes this summer, including our original garage apartment, a home we were house-sitting for, and my parents house for a week. We have been in limbo and are excited to be heading out to Chicago. I will be transferring with Grant Thornton to their Chicago office so that should be good. I have officially decided that I hate the CPA exam; however, am working towards completing the beast!

Well, that is all for now, but lets get this thing up and running!

And now I will sign my name because I am not sure if my post will sign it for me! I am a definite amateur!

-Amanda Pope