This is the Story of a Girl

Christie and I had so much fun planning this bridal shower...we drove all over town on Saturday, cut up tons of veggies and fruits (with the help of Dan...thanks buddy!), decorated, searched for some kind of sandwhich to feed everyone...an event in itself (thanks again Dan). It turned out great and we had around 30 people show up for the fun! Thank you so much to everyone who came to support L!

The Loot!

Everyone ate and got to visiting and then we played a little "get to know the couple" bingo game where you had to guess if it was the bride or groom based on a clue. These two can be tricky since L can keep up with pretty much any boy on a quad and her favorite food is mashed potatoes....she is definitely a special gal! She is so excited to get married and will make a great wife.

Carsyn just wanted to help so bad!

We are so excited for the lovebirds and know that they will have a great life together. L was such a gracious guest of honor and made everyone feel welcomed. She got some great gifts and we had a ton of fun!

Let the Good Times Roll

It's long overdue...but I wanted to still share! In the midst of all the wedding planning for L we have managed to find several lake trips at the same time. Boy, my body was craving a tan in a bad way....we're re-donkulous pale up in this hizzy! haha!

Dad on the Knee Board

D had the time of his life at this trip to Roosevelt. We shortened up the rope really tight so he was riding the knee board right on top of the wake and sometimes infront of it like a surfer. He had SO much fun!! Look at that big 'ol grin on his face. I would have been terrified but the boys seemed to love the thrill of potentially throwing their face right into the prop...whatever it's all in good fun right? lol

Me and Ruby Sioux

Here's a quick glamour shot of me and the puppy. She did so great on the boat! She was a little nervous to get in and out of the boat but just hung out for the most part. I got her to play in the water a little bit on the shore but anything past her shoulders must have been near drowning because she was terrified. One day...a little more exposure, and I'm convinced she'll be able to save my life if I needed it....haha...yeah right!

You Can't Have One Without the Other

Love and Marriage! I love my husband! Yesterday was our anniversary, very anti-climactic, but sweet. Tyler drove down to Tucson to pick up his new truck (happy aniversary to him!) and I squeezed out of work early to clean the house and make myself beautiful for a nice little date. He text me when he pulled in our driveway but after several minutes he had still not come into the house. I was anxious to see our new purchase, since I still had not seen the truck (I trust him to buy a truck on his own...he's a big boy). I opened the door and he was standing there with a bouquet of flowers. I'm so silly, I got a little teary, but earlier in the day I thought to myself, "I know Tyler isn't big on giving flowers and I know they'll just die, but it would be really nice if he got me flowers". He read my mind and with his own little twist bought me a brightly colored bouquet because he said they were more like me than stuffy roses. We went to dinner and rented a movie and quickly fell asleep as soon as it started :)

I just have to take a moment of gratitude for the blessings I am constantly given. I feel like there are no expectations for me to repay and yet I am continously blessed. Tyler and I do the best we can to have a happy home, a healthy marriage, a fun life, and fond memories of our time together. I cannot look back at one moment in my life with Tyler and say that I was not truly happy. He loves me unconditionally, he pushes me to grow as a person, he supports and strengthens my love of the gospel, he works so hard to provide for our family, and he treats me like I am the most important thing in the world. (For those of you that know him....he loves me more than his Honda....that says a lot...haha)

We have blessings poured on us beyond measure and I can never be thankful enough. We are truly a team and I am so thankful for the paths we have taken to lead us together to this point. I am so excited that we have eternity to enjoy our marriage and our future family and I know life will continue to be sweet as we continue to work for it.

It's Rainin, It's Pourin, The Old Man...You get it

I'm in the big "T"....Texas! Boy is it muggy down here! There is a ton of thunder, a little lightening, and I think it will probably rain tonight. I guess I have always thought of Texas as the desert. I picture the Alamo with dust devils and tumbleweeds, but it's so green here! It's beautiful! BUT....no thank you wet air...my hair doesn't like it, my sweat glands don't like it, my clothes don't like it....I don't like it....hahaha.

I just got some yummy room service...hallelujah for people that don't mind being anti-social because we are all tired. Long day of work in Tejas! It's time to curl up, eat some pasta, and watch some reality tv.

My poor husband

I love to cook.
I have a freezer full of food to use.
I'm tired after work.
I'd rather watch "SYTYCD"
I would rather live with the hungries than get off the couch.
Cooking isn't always the fastest process.
Pork tenderloin has so much potential you can't short change it.
Sometimes dinner out of a box just has to do.
Mine doesn't like dinner out of a box.

He finished the last bite he could bring himself to take and said, "It's not your cooking, it's just...I can't figure out what it is"... HAHAHAHAHA

Poor T :)

Grow Baby Grow

The long awaited, much anticipated, and really....not that exciting yet...BACKYARD!!
We've got our sod in and you can see Tyler's great irrigation work in action since I caught it with the sprinklers on. We planted those hopseed bushes (the wall bushes) along the right side and compliment it with a beautiful Shamel Ash tree on the left.




Here is the few from the back of the yard (excuse the ladder, wheelbarrow, etc.). We worked so hard getting it all in that once we finished we threw our hands up and walked away. Honestly, we haven't touched this poor yard since.




I am having some trouble with our bouganvillas....I think I'm watering them too much...didn't think that was possible here in the desert. Anyone else hear of this issue? I'll cut back the liquids and see if that gives them a face lift. :)

Like It's 1999......

The rain just makes me so happy! Even though I can't curl up in a ball and read, it makes me feel like I can which is amazing. Plus...the start of half-day summer Fridays at work are the cherry on top. It is refreshing to have time to do things around the house and trust me, "doing things" should not be exciting, but after a week at the office, it is nice to get back to my rural roots and get my hands dirty. Being home by myself also meant I could turn on some Beyonce and Janet Jackson and bust out my own version of "So You Think You Can Dance". It is a show that never gets caught in real life but boy does it feel good to grab that dust rag, throw on my jazz pants, and have a mini-flashdance moment. You should all try it...you'll love it....I promise.

Cause It's a Ladies Night

What a fun weekend! I still don't have pictures of my backyard...hehe...sorry about that. We ran down Thursday night and I got to spend the evening with the girls in my mom's family. It was so much fun and even though I have been blessed to see these girls more often lately, I never get bored with them. They are each special, loud, fun, giggly, and beautiful...I love them to pieces. I got too see my cousin's new baby girl who was absolutely precious and tiny.

Some of the Girl Cousins (we're missing like 15 more)

Mom and Grandma (obviously someone is being shy)

Friday I worked at my grandma's house all day for a little celebration we had for my mom that night. It was so hot outside! It was so fun to hang out with my brother and his fiance, it was the longest I had spent with my brother since Christmas so it was nice to be together.

Saturday was another girl's adventure with my sister and mother-in-law. We spent ALL morning at the mall...from the opening at 10:00am to about 3:00pm!!! We tried on clothes, we looked at jewelry, we pretended to buy cookies for our boys even though we all ate one, LOL! Of course, in my usual style I didn't buy anything until we got to Target to buy a present for someone else and I spyed a sweater I had my eyes on but promised myself not to get until it was on sale (it was a whopping $15...I am too cheap for my own good). Lill came away with some good stuff and Momma C restrained herself as well, but we had such a good time.

That afternoon we hit up the housewarming party for our friends who just bought this gigantic 3,000sq/ft house (so jealous!) but it was nice to visit with them. Then we jogged down the street to Christie's house for her graduation party. She is all done with college and I know she couldn't be happier.

YAY!!!! 3 DAY WEEKEND HERE I COME!!!! We've got a big fat nothing planned except maybe a little camping with an air mattress in the back of the truck at the lake...a good time had by all!

A Quickie

Really fast...we're alive!

1. Our backyard is really coming together. Thank you to everyone who helped Tyler with the prep work and installation. We have 6 bouganvillas, 6 hopseeds ('wall plants' as I like to call them because they will grow 10 ft. tall and block the 'driveway' side of our yard), 3 Mesquite trees, a new beautiful Shamel Ash tree and 800 sq. ft. of wonderful green sod! Sorry I don't have a picture yet but I will soon.

2. Countdown to a wedding and graduation and birthday and housewarming. As you can tell our weekend is JAM PACKED with events. All of these are happening within 24 hours...we will be running :)

3. Tyler is done for the semester! He got really good grades and I know he is enjoying not having to go to class on Monday nights and worry about all his online homework the rest of the week (I won't lie...I'm enjoying the break too...haha) But not for long, he starts summer school the 1st of June!

4. Tyler also started playing on the softball league at work...WHAT!!?? I know...crazy huh? I was so proud of him. The guy has seriously not touched a bat since he was in elementary school and he hit the ball all 3 times he was up for bat and I think he even got someone out while he played 1st base. I am so so so proud of him. It's fun to take the dog and share my pretzel and cheese with her while we enjoy the show.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

We ran down to Tucson and while we were there the boys wanted to go test their new dirtbikes...I don't blame them. Dan, Tyler, Scotty, Shauna, and Gary all ran the track down by the fairgrounds. So...in an effort to be more productive and have a little bit of our own fun, Christie and I decide to drive later and meet them. Boy....what an adventure! Had to turn back for food, got some crazy directions, got a little lost, did some doughnuts in the front office parking lot, ate some junk food...long story short...a dang good time! Here is us at the end of the our adventure sitting in the freezing wind watching our boys ride :)

I thought I should provide an updated picture of our yard after all the hard work last weekend! We scooped and shoveled and raked until we just couldn't take it anymore.

So, I know it's hard to tell but you can see all the pea gravel we layed in the back...12 tons...didn't even begin to put a dent in this beast. BUT...we have some rock to keep the dirt down, thank goodness! Tyler and John dug some trenches and then Tyler and I laid and glued all the pipe for the sprinklers. Yay! Sprinklers! I am so glad we are doing it the right way this time...no more half-way business.

Here is a picture of John keeping our dog busy while we were working :)

We will probably finish the drip system this week and be able to lay sod and plant some more plants this weekend. But there is still so much more to do....there will definitely be future updates including brick laying, more rocks, and a firepit!