SummerFest Fun!

June 15-June 17

Friday afternoon, Mike and Jess came up to visit for the weekend. We were planning on going to see SummerFest by the tabernacle. I took Jess to Jenson's books to get Chloe some books for cheap. While we were there, Mike managed to lock himself out of my apartment. :S I had to help him open the door. Lol. Around 2, M and J went to visit some friends from LD's, Bobby and Megan. I'm guessing they had fun because Mike looked exhausted when they came back. When Nate got home, we all went to Gaucho Grill for dinner. 

 Man the guys ate so fast!

 Delectable limeades

It was so good! I got so full. They continually brought out more and more meat to try and my stomach was telling me to stop. This little girl had way too much fun banging her hands on the table and tilting her head at you. It was too cute!!! 

After dinner, we went back to our apartment and played M & J's new game carcassones. I got my butt kicked at this simple game, but it was really fun. We stayed up talking a bit, watched some How I Met Your Mother, read scriptures together and then went to bed.

Saturday morning, Mike and Nate got our Bountiful Baskets and then we had french toast for breakfast. Mike and Jess ran on an errand in Logan while Nate mowed the lawn and fixed the sprinklers. When they got back, I took Jess to Beadles for a birthday gift. She made brown earrings and I made a wristband for my watch. Don't they look cool?

(photos courtesy of Jess N. Beach)

After lunch, Mike and Nate went rock climbing at Rockhaus. We put Chloe down for a nap, talked for a bit and then when the little crazy one woke up, I took them both to the Willow Park Zoo. 

Chloe wasn't very interested in the animals, but there was a turkey quite interested in her. It's a great little park. Around 6 o'clock, we headed to the temple to take pictures of Chloe. It was a bit tricky to get her to smile. Point a camera at her and she'll just stare at you blankly. But we got it. Look at the Beach blog to see how they turned out. Jess and I met up with Nate and Mike at the festival. There were so many different booths with different art. It was a great year. Nate and I made sure to visit the booths of his old neighbor Doug and his Aunt Carol.

 There were SOO many people, it was AWESOME!

Afterward we were finishing up, Nate and I got a funnel cake as is tradition. It was delicious!!!

 Not sure what he was doing, but I love him anyway.

It was getting late, so we walked home and popped my frozen lasagna in the oven. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. It didn't take long for us to call it a night.

Sunday morning, we had Mexican breakfast via Mike and Nate and then went to church. Chloe was vocal throughout the whole block, flirting to people as she went. After church and some needed naps, we had honey-apple turkey, asparagus, potatoes and watermelon for dinner. Yum! My dad, Boomer and Dani showed up soon afterward to celebrate Father's Day. 

We went to first dam to enjoy the day and feed the ducks.

 Duck, Duck, Goose!

I love my family!

We soon headed back to our apartment for brownies and ice cream. Jess shared her chocolate ice cream with ze baby and Chloe continually insisted on more. Choca-holic, girlfriend! She even got a brain freeze at one point. It was good to have everyone up to celebrate Father's Day. I love you daddy!

Thanks for coming up Mike and Jess! It was a great weekend! We had so much fun!!!

The Rose

June 14

After a depressingly tough day, Nate surprised me with this...

one long stem rose.

It had been awhile since he's given me flowers. And I was struggling with some different things, so it was perfect timing for a simple flower of affection.

Nate is so great! He knows exactly what to do to put a smile on my face. His love for me has never wavered and I'm so grateful for it. I don't know where I'd be without him.

Too much fun?

June 7

Every Thursday, our stake plays softball as well as gets dinner. It's a great way to socialize and get to know people in our ward. The first game, Nate managed to hit himself in the face. Don't worry, he did have a mitt on. Upon catching it, the his mitt came down into his face and caused his lip to bleed and swell. We soon went home to get him some ice.

It actually got a little bigger than this and I couldn't take him seriously for a time when he spoke. Lol. By the next morning, it had graciously reduced in size but was just a little purple. 

June 8-9

After work, Nate took off for a Father & Sons camping trip with my dad and brothers. He had a really good time camping out. He now wants a tent trailer. Thanks Dad! Hah. He liked studying scriptures with my family and enjoyed the spiritual message given by the stake presidency: "If life was easy, it wouldn't be hard". Makes perfect sense to me. 

Meanwhile...I ate dinner alone, applied for a teaching position and watched Forever Young (cute movie). It was a little hard being in our apartment for 24 hours and sleeping all by myself. But Nate came home and I'm  glad he got to camp and have so much fun roughing it with my family.

Bathroom's Beautification

Over the course of the last few weeks, I decided to add a feminine touch to our bathroom. The original color was very very bold even though it was only on two walls. I painted a white strip around the wall and then starched fabric circles to the wall. Here's the result:

 Voila!

They're bubbles!

Lovin' FHE

A few FHE's ago, Nate and I did an FHE from a book where we talked about love. Sounds a bit mushy, but it was really fun. First we brain-stormed all the ways that somebody can love. We then narrowed down a list down to top ten ways to love.
1. Selflessness
2. Showing love to Christ
3. Keeping law of Chastity
4. Quality Time
5. Service
6. The Hokey Pokey
7. Everyday kisses and hugs
8. Listening
9. Writing notes to one another
10. Giving gifts or surprises
We now have it posted on our fridge. For the next part, Nate and I used sticky notes and index cards to write notes to each other. When we were both done, I hid in the pantry while Nate ran around the apartment hiding his notes. When he was done it was my turn.

I have his posted on my big mirror. So far, I've found all of his and he has to find 2 more of mine. He hid them in very clever places. I'm so grateful to have Nate as my husband. He's kind, understanding and caring. He puts my needs above his own and he's great with everyone he meets. I love having you as my best friend forever Nate!!!

Grouse Creek, Here We Come!

May 27

Nate and I got up at 5:30/6 to drive to Grouse Creek to meet up with his family. Again he insisted on driving the whole way. I fell asleep shortly after we hit the road and missed the gorgeous view of the Sierra Nevadas. I was bummed when I woke up to have missed it. We showed up at the house a little after 5 pm. We ate lasagna for dinner and as a family went to the Etna house to see where Larry grew up. 

 The family living there was really nice to let us look around as Larry recounted stories from his childhood. The owner of the house and Larry talked about their ancestors from the valley. It was cool to hear all the stories and memories. I guess at one point the current owner was hunting game across the street and saw something under a rock that peaked his interests. When he moved the rock, he found a bunch of letters in an old crate, written by one of his ancestors starting around 1916 or 1919, just before and during WWI. They were still in pretty good condition too! This building above also was made in the late 1800's with bricks chiseled with an ax and mortared in quality condition.

 This was Larry's playground as a boy. Right around his mother's garden.

After leaving the Etna house, we drove around to different sites where Larry helped his dad work the farm. Apparently, around the house Larry's grandpa or great grandpa had 400 acres of farmland and another 17,000 acres near Pilot Peak. That's huge! Currently, Larry's family only owns a small fraction of that land today....(which Nate hopes to own one day. Grouse Creek is one of his favorite places, much like his dad, Larry, quiet with minimal amount a public crowds.) Emily and Sara recorded Larry's stories as we went from place to place

 The "Grouse Creek" house Larry's family still owns today. We slept there for the night.

After driving around, Larry wanted to show me the grouse creek cemetery where the Warburton graves are. There's a lot of their ancestors there, including those that built the Etna house. He also showed us some graves of Shoshone children. It was kind of cool. We came back to the house for Em's dessert which was delicious!!!

 Scott was pretty interested watching me play with my iPad

 The living room. The adults talked while the kids ran in and out of the room. Emily gathered them together at one point to play spoons with cards and candy. As it got later, the kids were put in Barbara and Larry's room to watch a movie, while the grown ups played Wits & Wagers. It was really fun.

Soon then everyone decided to go to bed. Nate cocooned me next to him inside a sleeping bag and a blanket on a twin. The next morning his mom came in to wake us up. Originally, she couldn't see me, I was that bundled! Eventually she saw my forehead. I stayed warm though.

May 28

Monday morning, everyone got up, ate breakfast and cleared out of the house. Barbara traded her car with ours because Nate wasn't entirely sure the Saturn could make it over anymore dirt roads. We also picked up two of our nieces in the back seat during our trip. Emily's family, Sara, Nate and myself went to City of the Rocks in Idaho.

 Do you see how there is nothing out here?

 Twin Sisters National Monument

 We drove through the park, arriving at Bathtub Rock.

 Nate, Emily and I climbed to the top. The rock has been altered in such a way that you don't need gear to climb it. Nate thinks he's so cool.

 We're almost to the top!

 Do you see why it's called Bathtub rock?

 City of  Rocks

 After we climbed down, Rob and Marri decided to climb to the top. Nate and I sat near the base watching Scott try to climb the same rock.  Cecily and Sophie went on their own adventure after trying to climb the same rock as Marri and the adults. Emily took her girls on a climb of their own. One that hadn't been explored yet.

 Afterwards, we went to the visitor's center and hot springs in Almo, Idaho. They have 4 different sized pools. It was nice to just relax and soak in the water.

 Sara

 After swimming, we went to the Almo Steakhouse for lunch. We shared steak, pie, dutch oven potatoes, mixed veggies and steak fries. It was honestly the best steak I've ever had. It was SOO delicious!

 Afterwards, we headed home with the girls in the back seat. I put Aladdin on for them while we drove to Garland. We put flowers on the graves of Nate's grandparents and great grandparents. It was a great end to a much needed summer vacation.