Those 10 days of Summer

Why is it that time never does what we want? that old time cliche that time flies when you're having fun, is cold hard truth. I finished up my summer semester, and had 10 whole days to prepare for the upcoming fall semester. oh boy. The day i took my last final, my family and i headed up to Bear Lake for a few days of beachy bliss. (even though we never went to the beach.) We got up there late Wednesday night and got settled in our cute condo in Harbor Village, of course we kicked off your mini vacation with a good long run of M*A*S*H episodes, because that's what we do. The next day we had to drop by the pharmacy, because Ben got his wisdom teeth out and had gotten an infection, the meds took a little while to be called in, so while we were waiting the in truck, Ben discovered a random piece of chalk rolling around on the floor and so we took it upon ourselves to use it the best we could:

We also outlined Ben's 6 pack that he has even when he's not flexing. punk.



 After that we headed off to the marina! We rented a boat, and i will not lie i was all sorts of excited because i had never been boating before. We all got in, and launched the boat, then we took off and cruised around the lake for about an hour before we got out the toys to play:) Ben strapped the wake board on and took off like a pro:



he was not a fan of the cold water;)

After Ben was done, dad gave it a whirl, he got so close to getting up, but sucked in too much water and had to take a break. I was hoping to attempt wake boarding later in the day, but the water got too choppy to even attempt. Maybe next time! We all got to tube though, even mom got in the water which was shocking, because it was Shark week, and the woman hates deep water (because of the sharks;) but she did, because she's awesome like that. I loooved the tube, i seriously giggled like a 5 year old girl when i was on it, kind of embarrassing, i had not self control haha.

We boated for about 7 hours had lunch on the water and just had so much fun! Later that night we went and got pizza and then, of course, we watched more M*A*S*H!
Friday Morning, mom and dad had to go down to Logan to close on the new house they are buying. So that took a little chunk out of our day, we just kicked around town before going over to Pickleville playhouse for dinner and to see Forever Plaid. It was such a funny play, they did a great job putting it on.
We headed home Saturday, and packed a few things for the move. Sunday i taught my young women for the last time. I have been so blessed to have that calling, like any other calling in the church it's had it's ups and downs, but i truly loved serving those girls!
Monday we went to the Brigham City open house, it was seriously stunning! If you have time to go to the open house do it! Anyone can go:)
The rest of my short lived summer vacation was mainly spent packing and preparing for our move to grand ole plain city. I went to dinner with some friends and had a movie night with my cute friends Alisha and Shanda. All in all an all too short summer vacation. I head back to school tomorrow!

Goodbye sweet summer... 

We remain the same

Well, I can hardly believe it, but Phill has been gone 20 months as of today! It's indescribable how much our lives have changed while we've been apart, how much we've changed on our own and as a couple. But in all reality we are just as similar and as happy "together" as we were the day he left.  We always joke that we can read each other's minds (which we pretty much can) These pictures are examples of things we have done in the last 20 months that were totally spontaneous, but remind me how perfect we are for each other: 

January 2011: Still in love, obviously he's only been gone a month, but that's longer than some girls make it. haha. (i can't believe how young we look!)

 Rocking our matching Valentine's day shirts

 Pretending we can play these instruments...we each only know like one song. haha.

Spending some time in the clink....

sometimes we take cool pictures of ourselves in mirrors.

Enjoying Christmas Decorations in our local towns

We both drove jeeps! (i still drive a jeep. score.)

fashion gurus

fine taste in beverages

meditation

Mustache March!!! 2012

freakishly large chairs

hiking

temple visits

Still happy together! See you in 4 months:)

whirl wind

This weekend my parents, my sister  and I took a whirl wind trip down to Cedar City to take part in the Shakespeare Festival they have down at SUU.  We didn't watch any Shakespeare though...what? Nope, we drove all that way to see Les Miserables.  The last time we saw it on stage was in 2007, so needless to say it was about time we saw it again. The venue was a small stage on the SUU campus, it was amazing being so up close and personal for one of the most moving musicals of all time!
I found myself getting a lot more emotional during this performance, I don't know if I am just older and have experienced enough to really relate to the Characters or i was just hormonal...haha. Either way, it was fabulous as always I never tire of the story or the music, it is such a powerful message of striving for good and bettering one's self. 
I cannot wait for the movie of the musical to come out in December! It's going to be so amazing to watch this beautiful story portrayed on the big screen. This is the movie trailer:

Before the play started we had a little fun in the gift shop trying on all these crazy masks they had in there, observe:

Also, I may have gotten a little friendly with Shakespeare...Phill's been gone for 19 months what you do you expect I get lonely. After the play we drove down to St. George visited the outlets and had dinner at Texas Roadhouse. It was a fun mini trip with my amazing family, minus a few.

Girl's Camp

This week I had the great opportunity of joining the Young Women of my ward at their Girl's Camp. We went down to Manti to watch the Pageant. When we pulled into the Temple Hill Resort we were greeted by a cruel sight, 95 + degrees and NO shade for us to cool off under. Oh yes. I helped the girl's put up their tents and by the end of it we were all feeling pretty gross already. We hurried and rinsed off and changed into our Sunday best to go to the temple.

For those of you who are not currently serving with the youth, there has been a BIG push from the Big Guys (a.k.a. the General Authorities) for the Youth to get involved in family history. We took the girls to the Family History Center for an activity and most of them were able to find family names and bring them to the temple to be baptized during camp! They were all so sweet about it, and my sweet beehive Ashlee cried when she had finished her baptism knowing that she had freed her ancestor and helped her enter into Celestial glory. It was truly sweet.

The next day we went swimming in the camp's pool and then got ready for the Pageant! I had never seen the Pageant, so in many ways I think I was a little more excited than the girls. We were welcomed at the Pageant by missionaries, temple workers, pageant members, and a very large crowd of protesters. To distract the girls from those things going on around them we played all sorts of hilariously humiliating games until it was time for the Pageant to start.

The Young Women, or being in the Young Women as a leader, has really strengthened my testimony and helped me to grow. It is often frustrating to be 20 years younger than the other leaders, or when I am confused for one of the girls during activities, but honestly the fact that I am the Beehive advisor goes to show that Heavenly Father knows what He is doing, because it truly has helped me through so much and I am grateful for the challenge and gift my calling has been.

Me and Rachy Roo

Krystal and Rachel (secretly my favorites...shhh don't tell my Beehives;)

So we made this awesome pyramaid after 5 attempts the bottom row's backs were pretty sore.

Most of our cute girls, minus a few who were who knows where.

Almost all my Beehives and Me! I love them.

Firework Season

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Firework Season baby! There are not enough positive adjetives in the english language to describe how much i love fireworks, the season always begins with Founder's Day in Pleasant View, I'll be honest as a North Ogdener i never really cared for the whole Founder's day speil, but I, of course, always take advantage of the fireworks! This year i dragged Kaileb and Tif along with me, oh and their cousin Cory who just happened to be around. We met up with Shanda and her RM Kenton, Sterling and his date, also Alisha Littlewood and Allie Powell joined us. So we had a great group to enjoy the works of fire.  

Some of my all time favorite people!

Tif is the Little Sister i never had, she's so dang cute!

This is just the beginning of Firework Season, it's going to get serious!

Get out and enjoy some while you can:)

3 going on....

As you, the ever avid read of this epic blog, know on Friday was our 3rd year anniversary. Ironically as we like to point out we have never spent one together. Our first year Anniversary I was in Tonga, and the past 2 Phill has been in California doing something important i guess.... ;) Needless to say we are both at fault. Last year the anniversary on my own was a bit depressing so this year i stepped it up and took matters into my own hands. I took a personal day, which really only entailed getting my hair done and taking myself to lunch at Zuppas (Yum!), BUT it was still something!

I came home to a cute card from Phill in the mail and a video letter, i literally love video letters from him! it's the closest we ever really get to being together and he has some unbelievable gift to say everything i need and want to hear. Home Run, Phillip, Home Run.

This is a snip i took of his video where he is showing off that we're still a cute couple obviously;) haha. Although he doesn't look all to pleased at the moment. haha.

Later that day, I went with my family Father's Day shopping, and we came across this beauty:

i tell you what, if you are ever having a "fat" day, sit in this chair, it makes you feel so small. haha. Instant cure! I love the 6 cup holders, oh the possibilities!!!

In other events of that day, Kaitlin was doing her hair, and it was getting a little out of control so i challenged her to see how big she could make it. Challenge Accepted:

As you can see, we got a pretty good laugh out of it. Man i love her.

Even though it would have been incredible to spend our anniversary together it's reassuring to know that we are doing as our Heavenly Father has asked of us, to give of ourselves for the building of his kingdom on this earth. Next year we'll both be here, so we'll have to do something...REALLY amazing to celebrate ;)

we're 3:

Well it's official as of today Phill and I are 3 years old, or at least our relationship is. ha. For this anniversary i made him a book on Shutterfly, it was pretty fun! Anyways here it is for your oooing and awing pleasure;)
It's incredible how quickly time passes, i am so blessed to have Phill in my life!