Jeff's Cabin

Back in March Eric and I went to our friend Jeff's cabin in Bear Lake.  It was such a great break for us! We went for a four wheel ride, had some steep tubing, and I got to shoot a gun for the first time! It was a hand gun and I'm now addicted.  Don't worry though, I won't be going on a shooting spree, unless I can talk Eric into taking me to a shooting range. 

On our way back from playing in the sun and snow we ran into a little four wheeler trouble.  Since the sun had been shining on the snow there were some soft spots in the snow.  There were three of us on each of the two four wheelers.  Eric, Jenny and I were on the second four wheeler so we got to watch the action.  The front left tire of the four wheeler Dusty was driving caught a soft spot in the snow swerving the four wheeler to get stuck in the snow.  Since the surrounding snow was so soft we had to build our own track to get the four wheeler out so we had to scrounge around for branches and twigs.

This is what we left behind.

Here we go

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy First Day of School. 

So before Christmas I got to go to Cali and Disneyland for the first time with my family.  It was a fun and exhausting trip.  We drove all day Friday then woke up early on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and stayed at the park until about 11:30ish every night.  Then we woke up early on Tuesday and drove all day.  I got home in Logan at around 12:30am only to wake up early to go to work.  So not a resting trip, but it was still a blast. 

I love rides and roller coasters! I couldn't get enough of the tower of terror.   My ride buddy since my hard-working husband had to stay behind and work was Jesse. He is a pretty cool kid... I guess. 

 

An added bonus to the trip was Aaron, Kristen, Ella, and Ty were able to come out and spend two days with us at the park.  I sure do miss them!

She is pretty much adorable.

Christmas was great. I got spoiled! Which, let's be honest, is always great.  My sweet Eric did great this Christmas! We had an early "Christmas".  Eric and I opened our gifts to each other on Christmas eve morning.  It was fun.  I was so happy we did it together like that! 

This is what our tiny apartment looked like after opening gifts.

What a joy to clean up after Eric left me to go to work.

Eric and I spent the night at my house after participating in the (literally) heart stopping fry fest.  A tradition that needs to rethought.  Our bodies are just not made to take in that much grease and oil,  even though the food was delicious at the time.  Eric suffered for about two days after his first exposure to the fry fest.  What a champ.  After we opened up some great gifts (like our lovely new black bookshelf) with my family we headed over to Russell's for a nice Christmas day.  They got Eric and I some fancy pants tooth brushes with we love!  We are easy to please.  They also got me some luggage.  My very own, bright blue luggage.  My first luggage!  So great!  So traveling here I come (well, hopefully anyways).  We pretty much spent the rest of the day with there with the whole Russell side.  It was a nice, chill day.  I enjoyed it! 

New Year's Eve was a little lame. Only in the fact that Eric and I didn't even kiss when midnight came around because we didn't even pay attention to the time.  It was a fun night though minus the lack of celebration.  We went out to dinner with the always fun Jenny and Jeff then came home and played games all night.  I really am such a fan of playing games.  I possibly get competitive, but it's fine.

Now that our school break (not a work break mind you) is over we are back in action.  So stoked for school... but really this won't be too bad of a semester.  These next few months will go by fast.  I can't believe that after this semester we will be sending Eric's applications out to dental schools all over.  Please already start crossing your fingers for us. Thanks. I know it will all be great.  Since Eric will be spending all him time these next few months at the library and at work and I now only have to work late one night a week I decided that I needed a hobby. So guess what I chose to do? 

Go ahead, guess.... 

Ready?

I am going to train for a marathon.  So here is the plan: run the half-marathon in SLC in April then go all out and run the full marathon in Bear Lake in June.  AHHHHHH!  It'll be great...right? I've always wanted to so why not now?  I just need to kick it gear and start running.  Woo!

Oh and just a bragging moment for Eric:

Remember this?

His thinking cardigan actually worked!  English was his worst feared class and he ended up getting an outstanding essay award (and no, everyone in the class didn't get one).

It is still proudly hung on our fridge.

Well that is about all the excitement lately. Have a good, snowless January. 

HAPPY DECEMBER

Well, Merry Christmas everyone.  

 Tis the season to be jolly.  Eric and I got our first little baby tree.  Tender moments.  Our Christmas decorations are limited, but we love the ones we do have.  We have all of Eric's nutcrackers and smoker guys from Germany.  We also have these fun Merry Christmas blocks courtesy of the wonderful LeeAnn Russell.

Yeah, we know we are really cute.  It is okay to admit it. But really, I just love the man in this picture!

My center that I work at had a Christmas Boutique last weekend and I made these cards for it:

I only show them to prove I can be crafty.  As I was making these Eric says, "I didn't know you could be so crafty."  Thanks for the confidence Eric. ha


I hope that the few of you that read this blog are having a great December. Merry Christmas. (I love saying that!)

Until next time.

Tribute

I know this blog is all about my cute, fun marriage but I just need to take a moment to publicly pay a little tribute to the best woman I will ever know.  November 22 is my mom's birthday.  This day use to be the day we celebrated the past and the future we had with her.  Now on this day we celebrate the wonderful, sometimes hard, but amazing time we got to spend with her.  I will never be able to describe with words my love and adoration for my mom.  I will always honor her and the values that she taught me.  I'm not here to tell you that she was a perfect woman.  Non of us are, but I can tell you that she gave everything she had to her community, to her church, to her family, to her children, and to her husband.  She was everyone's best friend.  Whenever my dad talks about her viewing or funeral he tells how so many different women of different backgrounds would say, Hi I am so and so... I just lost my best friend.  What an amazing legacy to leave behind.    She was active in all our lives.  My mom was spread thin with having so many children involved with so many different sports, but she never lacked being involved.  She never missed a game, even when she was so sick.  I feel so incredibly blessed that even at 15 I was able to share a bond with my mother that was SO strong.  I have been told that I have my mother's heart and I hope I always will.   I always want to keep her generosity, willingness to serve, love for everyone she meant, and love for my children like she had for us.  For those of you that don't know her, I am sorry that you didn't have the opportunity to meet her.  If you want to know what she was like look at all her children.  We all share parts of my mom.  For those of you that have met her, you can share my love and deep respect I have for her.


Some of the good times:
Knowing that my mom would always be the loudest one cheering at any event.
Getting to make cards and cutting out projects for good old Stamp it up.  I still think about her every time I walk into a craft store.
Getting to "step" next to her in the mornings with she used one of those work out steps while watching Reggis and Kathy (before Kelly).
Getting to hold her hand while watching movies.
Finding a bear or a little card on my bed after I had a bad day.
Always having to pause my story because she was saying her prayer.
Decorating the house for Christmas (though take down day was always the worst!)
Amy Grant in the morning.
Buttered toast dipped in hot chocolate.
Many many more.

This post isn't meant to seem sad.  I truly have been blessed to have been my mother's daughter and I am greatly for all the lessons I have learned through this trial I have been given.  I can't wait until the day when Eric will get to meet her.  He will love her because she will laugh at everything and anything he says.  I am so grateful for the plan of salvation.  If you haven't told your mom you love her lately... now would be a great time.  =)

I put this picture on for Cassie... remember how Mom walked on air that day? haha

blog. blog. blog.

Alright... I am finally making the time to blog. I know I know. Your welcome.

Since my last post...

I have turned 21. Woot Woot. 

Eric was so great and threw me a little surprise party. 

We had fall break so my siblings came up for a fun/muddy hike.

We went to White Pine Lake. 

So glad my family was able to make it up.

Here are some fun photos from the day. 

If only you could see the mud.

We're hot.

Bobby being king of the rock.

It was beautiful.

He really does look normal sometimes. =)

Only part of the gang.

Who are these boys?

Growing up so fast.

 

Life has been busy with school and work, but marriage has been great!  Besides that fact that I am starving my husband because of my lack of desire to go grocery shopping.  Don't worry, he is fine. ha We had a fun time at the Chamberlin Halloween party.  I will post pictures of our costume in the next post. Until then have a great day! 

Weekend

My boy is 24 years old! He is currently 4 years older than me. What a creep!

His 24 year old birthday picture.

 We had a delicious dinner over at his parents house.  It was fun to spend time with the fam!

The day started with this.

then this....

and ended with this.

It was a great day.  My boy is growing up...

Utah State hey aggies all the way.

Just some photos from our Saturday night date night. USU beat up on Weber State.