Oh Meadow.

Yet another great weekend. We are loving the sunshine!

On Friday my mom and dad gave us a coupon to Donovan's Steak place for the most delicious dinner ever! It was so fun to surprise Scotty with a fun date and to do something out of the ordinary for us. It was really fun to go to a nice restaurant (we haven't been to a restaurant with waiters in a long time! We usually splurge for Cafe Rio). Thanks mom and dad!

We woke up on Saturday and went for a hike up above our house. We hiked up to Black Mountain. There's still snow up there! But it was beautiful weather, and we loved getting out and starting the morning right. Our buddy Andrew came with us. It was fun to catch up on things and be up on the hills!



So we went to lunch with Andrew afterwards and about halfway through our lunch we got the idea that we'd go camping. An hour later we were on the road. We picked Adam and Becka up in Provo and headed down to Meadow to our favorite hot springs and lava tubes. We had a great time swimming in the hot springs (about 35 feet deep) and exploring the lava tubes and abandoned mining site. Scott also had a great time playing with the shutter speed on our camera. It was so great to get away for the night and to feel like we really were able to make the most of our weekend. We went to bed last night at about 9:15 and woke up ready for the week. But the week always seems to go pretty fast, and the weekend is right around the corner.


Scott and I are always color-coordinated for some strange reason.












Scott has a fascination with dropping heavy things down gaping holes. I photograph his excitement.







We thought it was cool that Andrew was the only one in focus, staring the camera down, while the rest of us look like ghosts.

I have a cabbage patch head.



Such a nice picture, right? One big happy family sitting around the campfire. If only Scott didn't have cheat death by jumping into the fire.

And then the fire sucked his soul and he is now floating in the air with the smoke from our fire.

And we all sat around for the rest of the night, talking about how much we missed him.



It was one of the most satisfying fires! And it was way better than sitting around watching a movie in the city. I'm so glad I'm married to my best friend who loves all the things I love. And I'm so happy we have great friends who will hop on board for a very last-minute trip. It was a very productive 3pm Saturday to 11:00am Sunday.


These hot springs are in the middle of nowhere! But they don't smell, they're not murky, and you can explore down below instead of just chill in the hot tub. It was such a relaxing and fun trip.

Kyle

After a week with a dead cell phone, I located the charger and plugged it in to see what messages and missed calls awaited me.

And I was so happy to see a text from Kyle, one of my best friends and cousin! It had been about four months since we've talked! Before two years ago that wouldn't have been a big deal... but after living next door to each other at school and hanging out almost every day... I'm really surprised that it's been so long! I guess marriage takes it's toll! By the time we were out of the newlywed stage, Kyle and Allison were in it!

I called Kyle back, and it was great to catch up on what has been going on. I don't like long gaps between talks with my friends, but it's great when you can go that long and pick right up where you left off. It's the mark of a great friendship, I think.



When Kyle and I were hanging out one day, we talked about who was going to get married first. Most people claim that they're not getting married for a while, but Kyle and I were convinced that we'd beat each other (having observed first-hand each other's dating life). I told him we should make a bet. Kyle suggested we bet a puppy. If I got married first, Kyle would have to buy me a puppy. If he got married first, I'd buy him a puppy. A husband AND a puppy? Pretty good deal, right?

I went off to river guide, and we didn't talk quite as often. When I was done on the river, I went to Kyle's house in Roseville for a week to hang out with Kyle (originally to spend time with him before I left on my mission). He was the first one to know about Scott. I caught him up on everything, he gave me a lot of good advice, we went hiking and boating, and six months later this picture was taken at my wedding. Kyle brought his cute girlfriend to the wedding. I thought she was great! I was about to tell Kyle to pay up with the puppy, but I instead told him that if he was engaged within six months of my wedding we'd call it even and we'd each get our own puppy. Kyle kind of shrugged a bit. "Are you going to be engaged within six months, Kyle?!" I asked him.

This is the face he made. Priceless. Their wedding day was one of my favorite days!

Word of Mouth

I've been hearing and reading a lot about this video. So I decided to check it out. I love Elder Holland. He is one of the most powerful speakers I have ever come to know. I really do feel as though I have come to know Elder Holland. I feel connected to him because of his charisma and passion when he speaks. What he says about the Book of Mormon is what I wish more than anything I could fully express to some of the people in my life. But of course I always find myself lacking the graceful dictation and the conviction of the spirit in the moment when I wish I could bear witness of the Book of Mormon. This is a beautiful and compelling testimony based on the actuality of the Book of Mormon's beginnings. Watch it. And keep reading!

First Sunburn of the Summer

Dousing each other with green aloe vera gel made for good entertainment for Andrew and Ben while they were in the bath tub and Grandma and Grandpa's house. Andrew loved watching me turn Scott into a "green goober." Ben was kind of concerned. Kirst told me Andrew was drawing Scott and me as "green goobers" this morning. I will have to frame that picture.

We were expecting it to be chilly down in Capitol Reef, but instead it was gorgeous!! Hello summer! I don't even know where spring went... cause this weekend went straight to summer. We had a wonderful weekend hiking throughout the washes, ridges, and slot canyons. It was such a fun trip for me because it was a combo of river friends and high school friends. I loved spending time with some of my favorite people, and I loved watching them get to know Scotty a bit better. Scott and I were talking about the weekends, and we realized that for the first time in our lives, the weeks go by a lot faster than the weekends! By the time Monday rolls around, it feels like we were able to pack so much into the weekend that it couldn't have been only two and a half days! That's good news, and we're hoping to keep it up all summer! It's only April and we're already checking off our summer list! I'm a happy girl. I love getaways with Scott. And it's so great to have a home that I love coming home to!

And I partook of my first watermelon of the season at my mom's house. Happy, happy girl.



As always, I ended up carrying Scott the entire way. What a wimp.
And when you scroll down, you'll see a picture of me eating Parry's head. I don't know what's going on there.

April 16th

Today I wish more than anything I could give some sort of creepy happy birthday greeting to this fine sir below.



I sure miss him! I can't wait for the adventures to come when he comes back home. I can't believe he's twenty today! Buon compleanno Johnny!

Just thinking today...

...about how much I love this boy.















And I can't wait to join him on this climb someday.
I have no idea where it is.

Weekend Reefing...

Last time I visited beautiful Capitol Reef, I got to spend an awesome weekend with some of my favorite people... these lovely ladies.



Capitol Reef hosts some of my best memories of all time, beginning with my outdoor survival and environmental science classes in high school. I loved going to Capitol Reef with my friends, learning about the area, and exploring the wide and windy washes.



Things I'm looking forward to... a road trip... making new memories... showing Scott one of my favorite places in Utah... and making him love it as much as I do...



...and spending the weekend in Capitol Reef with all the same people in these pictures!

She'll be comin' round the moun'ain

A couple days ago we were doing this...










... and loving it! We had the best powder day of our lives! But I must say, I sure love this warm weather, because last night we got to do this...



I love living so close to some of Utah's beautiful mountains! I can't express how wonderful it was to be on top of these peaks, running around in the snow with my best friend. Scott and I decided that these are the moments that keep our friendship strong and growing. These moments help us come home to ourselves. There is nothing better than climbing hilltops with by best friend, talking about everything under the sun. It is so great to take time to have good conversation... while treating our bodies well... while enjoying this gorgeous earth that comes back to life this time of year.

Why do so many people run in a stuffy gym surrounded by noise when the mountains are filled with so many trails, a breeze, and a freshness of smell? (I think free tanning beds are a really big draw. Sad.)

I'm a lucky girl. I married someone who loves everything I do, and I am just now starting to see what a blessing that is because we can share these things together. Scott proposed in the mountains behind our house. We call it "Engagement Hill." It's fun to revisit the specific peak, but all mountains remind me of how our relationship began. I love Scott so much. I'm so grateful for the wonderful life we are so blessed to live.

What a perfect way to spend an evening... or even a quick getaway. And just seconds away!

Headed for the Hills...

...as soon as Scott's off work. I'm hoping to find some of these...

















Cause then I know that spring is really on its way. I love Utah sunflowers!

I love where we live in the aves because we're seconds away from a getaway in the mountains. Hiking, biking, running, climbing... it all starts today!

Today is Thursday... Thursday Fish Tacos?

I used to love this book. I still get the song stuck in my head.

Today is Monday

Monday -- string beans

Tuesday -- spaghetti

Wednesday -- soup

Thursday -- roast beef

Friday -- fresh fish

Saturday -- chicken

Sunday -- ice cream

All you hungry children, come and eat it up!


So great to catch up with these two today and eat delicious fish tacos at Red Butte.

I missed Sydney! But it was so great to catch up with Em and Amelia (and Miss Nicki... and Eric).

I'm a big fan of layovers if it means I get to meet my friends for lunch. Amelia and I got a chance to have an excellent catch up at the park in the sun. I always walk away from our conversations feeling like I learned something new. I am a lucky gal to have these girls in my life. I have always been blessed with great friends. Hopefully we'll get a longer reunion sometime this summer. We're overdue for a quads camping trip or boating or something.

Good Morning Good Friday!

I've become a big fan of Good Friday this year. Scott gets to stay home from work today because it is a global holiday! Good Friday! Good to be home in the morning with Scotty! We slept in, woke up in our sunny bedroom, and got excited to see Scott's parents who should be here in about four hours! We're having a lazy morning (I just learned that you get to do that when your house is all clean and you've done all your laundry and grocery shopping... something I've never before experienced). It's so great to be all caught up!

Scott's working on his essays for round two of the Foreign Service exam, and I'm making some granola to stalk up for the week. The last couple days I've gone crazy with my fruit dehydrator drying strawberries, oranges, and bananas. I loved the smell it spread through the house. While we do need more granola, I mostly wanted to make it so our house will smell like maple syrup.

It's so nice to have the time to hang out together, listen to mellow harmonica music, and enjoy our bright and beautiful home! I love Easter! I love Conference! I love my family, and we get to spend this Easter with both sets of parents. I'm so excited!

In other news, and because I am a proud aunt... look at these cute little Easter Bunnies!

Pranks

Scott and I were talking about April Fools jokes yesterday. He cracked a joke about telling me he was pregnant for April Fools. Ha ha ha ha ha ha...

Now I have no joke.

April means...

March is over. That means that I would have gotten home from my mission by now. I can't believe how fast time flies. We've had an amazing year and a half! I am unbelievably grateful for the choice I made to be with Scott. There's no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice sticking with this guy! (I've never doubted it for a second!) My life is so much better than I had ever planned for myself! I'm so happy!