Since I have been galavanting around the globe I haven't had time to really plan out our food like I usually do and boy is there a difference! The past couple months we have spent at least $300 on groceries each month, not including eating out....crazy!!!!

Behold....the budget and belly saver:

July's Meal Plan

I know I am missing a few days at the beginning of this month but they are already gone and this took me long enough. I went shopping today and bought food for all of the items on this menu, PLUS some stock up items and only spent $100!!! Bargain city right!?

ps. If you are planning on shopping before Wednesday, Albertsons has the most amazing peaches on sale right now for $0.99 (capital A amazing)....plus pork loin for only $1.69/lb (usually like $6....fantastic!)......and BOGO on their small cheeses. Fry's is doing thier case sale so I stocked up on Powerade for Tyler and saved like $5 and a ton of other stuff too!

Whew....my life feels organized and so does my bank account.

Rollin' with the Homies

So...post number one in a series of quick catch up posts so prepare yourself!!!

Colorado Springs

I had never been to Colorado before and I had heard so many great things so I was really excited when I found out we would be having some work meetings up at the beautiful Broadmoor Resort.

The Broadmoor Hotel & Resort

Me and the Homies
(on what I'm sure was a pure silk couch)

Not only did I get to stay at this mansion estate of a resort but I really got a good taste for Colorado as well. We each got to pick a 'recreation' for our second day at the resort...now understand this is a 5 star Luxury place and the spa is ranked in the top 5 in the nation or something ridiculous. What did your girl do????!

JEEP TOUR!!! Why wouldn't you want to drive around in the beautiful weather soak up the sights, go for a hike and cross over 7 waterfalls, see the Garden of the Gods, and drive through an old gold mine railway?

That is way better than getting a little foot rub if you ask me :)

Near the Top of Pikes Peak
(standing over a waterfall)

Garden of the Gods

This picture does not do the Garden of Gods justice. The landscape was so green and lush and then there would be huge red sandstone formations just jumping out of the ground. This view is actually from a higher view and then we drove down through the canyon. There were little spots like this for at least 10 square miles. It was awesome! I also got to see these guys:

Our jeep driver said he had been driving this path for about 10 years now and this was only the second time he had ever seen these rams come over the side of those cliffs. The man who actually built the Broadmoor in 1910, also built his estate in the Garden of the Gods and the Rams live on his property. It was really awesome!

View of the Broadmoor from Cripple Creek Railroad

To top it off we all got some really nice gifts from our company for the close of the fiscal year. It was a nice little reprieve from the daily grind at the office. I can't wait for next year...where could we go next!?

Mares Eat Oats and Does Eat Oats

I have had some really great experiences lately. I feel like Tyler and I are closer than ever, I have been totally blessed at work, we have great friends, our families are getting into the swells of life as we all get married, life is marching on.

There are plenty of things to update you about:
-Lill's Wedding
-Colorado
-Lake
-4th of July
-The dentist (yikes!)

But...just know we're chillaxin', rockin' and rollin', groovin', and livin'.

Here's a picture for giggles and good measure:

Life is like a rag bone....find something to balance it on and it makes for some giggles and a good time.

Driving While Sleeping

Here is a quick excerpt from our drive tonight. It had been a long day at the lake (10 hours) and we were exhausted. Just as a pre-cursor, Tyler likes it when I sleep because he can blare his crazy rock music and since I'm such a hard sleeper I don't wake up.

Example 1:
Tyler: Would it be wierd if I told you I wished you were asleep right now?
Me: Yes. That would be wierd.
Tyler: Well, it's a good thing I didn't tell you that than, huh?

Example 2:
Tyler poured himself a fresh soda with ice in a cup while we were driving down the road. He looked at me, paused, raised his glass, and knocked it right up against my head. I looked at him stunned, "Did you just 'cheers' my head?"....
"Yep."
A minute or two later I picked up my water bottle, took a drink, and Tyler stuck his head out awkward while driving and gave me this weird look. I took another drink and he cleared his throat. I looked at him, again stunned and said, "OH...am I supposed to 'cheers' your head?".....
"Yep."

Oh heavens....the things that happen when we are tired. I love this kid.

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. :)