an IKEA trip, friends, family, and lots of food.

President's Day Weekend was this past weekend.  Which meant a beautiful 3-Day weekend for us!  We accomplished a lot and spent the entire day together.  What more could anyone ask for?

First off, the landlords brought by our brand spankin' new dishwasher and the cleaning lady finally showed (she was supposed to come 3 weeks ago when we first moved in!) to clean the disgusto shower doors.  The tenants before us definitely didn't know how to clean shower doors.  Now they sparkle and shine and are an easy clean-up with a squeegee.  Happy day!

Next on our To-Do list this weekend was to return some sheets we had originally bought at IKEA last month.  We found a better thread-count for the same price at the Homegoods store so we said bye bye to the IKEA ones and hello to a higher thread count.

The line for returns wasn't too bad, but just long enough for us to get bored enough to snap a picture or two...

Then it was off to the other parts of the store in search of a rug to cover our dark green carpet at our new place, grab some new hand towels and dish towels, and a new lampshade.

Fortunately, I have one of the few husbands that actually likes going to IKEA with their wife.  

On our very first date, we actually had an hour wait at Red Robin before we could be seated.  So we went around a random place in the mall and looked at random bedding, kitchen set-ups, clothing (mainly the ties-we both found out we have a fettish with ties) and everything in between.  Ever since then, we just like to browse and dream about the future and what we might like in what house we buy in the future... 

Though T did find a place to sit for awhile at IKEA.  It was a pretty busy Saturday for IKEA being the big 3-Day Weekend and getting around the crowds was a little tricky.

We ended up finding the perfect rug within our price range and everything else we went for (and maybe a few other things).  Of course, we bought cinnamon rolls.  You can't go to IKEA without buying a cinnamon roll.  Or two.  Or a whole package.

After IKEA we made deeeeelicious BBQ pineapple bacon pizza with fresh mozzarella.  We pretty much always use Jana's thin crust pizza dough recipe when we Tyler makes pizza dough.  It works every time.  

We also made a batch of freezer breakfast english muffins that we make every two weeks, made stuffed broccoli cheese chicken, and made a full pan of cafe rio pulled pork enchiladas with homemade pico de gallo and guacamole.  

Dang, we're awesome.

My grandpa also got checked into the hospital over the weekend for a kidney infection.  My Dad and I went up to the hospital together for a couple of hours on Sunday and spent time just talking with him.  It's always hard to see people you love in the hospital.  BUT, he was joking around with us and requesting his razor so he could shave the moment we walked in the door.  He even let me feed him some of his "too salty turkey" and "not enough flavor" mashed potatoes.  

Apparently hospital food is not very tasty (I agree).  Then I got to just sit on the bed and hold his hand and talk.  We talked about fishing and people that he knows and how the Sunday newspaper forgot to put in the crosswords.  It was a good feeling.  Sitting there, holding his hand while every once in a while he'd squeeze mine tight and stroke it with his thumb.  

He's a pretty amazing man and the best patient-all of the doctors and nurses said so themselves.  He doesn't complain and he entertains himself (any man who could sit out on a boat all day long fishing and not say a word can certainly entertain himself in a hospital bed-though it's not nearly as exciting as fishing).  

My parents are equally amazing for the time they put into taking care of their parents.  My mom is with both sets of grandparents every.  single.  day.  She sorts my grandma's pills and makes sure she can turn on the DVD player, goes shopping with the other grandma, makes weekly fudge for one grandpa, and tries to keep tabs on the other.  She cooks, cleans, and entertains.  Both of my parents fix whatever breaks, tears, stains, etc. and they stay optimistic.  Even when their own Valentines dinner plans (which my mother plans waaay in advance) have to get cancelled to take care of their parents, they stay positive.  I'm proud of what they do and I sure do love them and their example of perfect Christlike service.

 Tuesday night was JaeKaeNae night since Katie came down from Idaho!  Nae is preggers with their baby boy due at the end of June and Katie brought cute little Natalie to visit too.  

It's just a little crazy to think that less than 8 years ago we were all graduating from high school together.  Now Kae has an 14-month old and Nae and I are only months away from having our own kiddos!

Life is certainly treating us well and we're excited for the next phases of our lives.  

Heavenly Father has blessed us far beyond what we had ever hoped and dreamed.

timp cave.

Today was our annual Timpanogos Cave hike.

This time, Dad actually got to go and so did Annette (a.k.a. my 2nd mother who helped raise me growing up)!

We were at the visitor center by 7:00 in the morning.  Say what?!  Apparently we really like hiking in the early morning hours.  Getting up before 6 during the summer is a big deal for me.  It usually does NOT happen.  Good thing I love my family or I would have stayed in bed and got my beauty sleep.

And so, the annual picture by the visitor center...

The sign right outside the cave entrance.

Trail lovin'.

Poor T.  Every time he went to eat his sandwich for lunch (at 8:30 in the morning) we were demanding another picture.  Which explains the following...

 {Me, Annette, T}

This one's a little better.  Though this time he was interrupted eating his Clif bar.  The "Carrot Cake" Clif Bar that he was incredibly excited about finding yesterday at Sprouts market while we were shopping for hiking snacks.

What a crack up.

For the first time, Dad beat us to the top.  He had a burst of energy during the hike up the switchbacks and never slowed down!  We were struggling to keep up with him and the mama this time around.  Apparently, the younger generation is getting lazy (said Ranger Brad at the top of the cave).

 Just one of the many faces of my father.  He gets pretty funny when we're in the mountains and camping.  This is the real Daddy.  This is where I get my love of funny faces.  I blame him.

Group picture inside the cave!

Such a fun tradition.  We saw a bajillion centipedes and a handful of lizards while hiking and saw the cave bacon, ice cream sundae, and the upside down chicken in the cave.

Oh how we love hiking Timp. Cave!

The Year Aunt Jo Didn't Eat All Of The Fudge

Every Thanksgiving, my family gets together the day before Thanksgiving and gets all of the baked goods, well, baked...

Aside from the baked goods, we always make fudge.

Always.

It has been my special duty to create the chocolaty-get-in-my-mouth-already-before-aunt-jo-eats-it fudge.

But this year, two things that NEVER happen,

happened.

One, I got a special helper who has never been in on the festivities due to the fact he's always on the road...

(He said he'd string me up if I posted this picture on any of "those sites you post pictures on."  But he looks too cute in his little apron to let this picture go to waste...)

My Dad!  

He choices were to do the pies or fudge.

He chose wisely and teamed up with me.

The usual EASY 10 minute fudge recipe got misplaced this year so Grandma found another one that was labeled "Easy Fudge" so we went with it.

30 minutes later...

My Dad was still stirring waiting for it to get to the "soft ball stage." 

Whatever that meant.

We had to have a little more help this year than previously needed.

Enter Grandma to help us with our cooking vocabulary.

In the end we got one of the best batches of fudge ever.  Until my mother destroyed it by adding pecans to half of it.  Nuts in chocolate?

Whoever invented that should be shot.

And TWO, Aunt Jo wasn't at Grandma's for Thanksgiving this year which meant...

More fudge for the rest of us!

(Although it does stink having the Dewey's so far away.  Again.  I'd rather have Aunt Jo back than a pan of fudge).

Of course you can't forget the other hands that helped with the cooking...

I love these women.  They are probably the three most influential people in my life.  My aunt Karen has been my mentor through teaching and basically got me through my first year of teaching.  My Mom is the perfect example of service and love.  And my Grandma has overcome so many trials and hardships in her life and she is a rock.  Immovable and strong in so many ways.

Today has been a day of thanksgiving.  I hate the term "Turkey Day."  This is one day where we all can express gratitude and thankfulness.  And although I'm a fan of turkey, there's no way I want Thanksgiving to become a day just about the turkey!

I'm thankful for family, friends, and my testimony of the gospel.  I know and have felt my Heavenly Father in my everyday life (which is easy being around so many little 2nd grade spirits every day).  I love my Savior and I strive to live my life like He did.  It's a life-long process and I love how He shapes me every day.  He blesses me more than I think I deserve and He never deserts us in our time of need!

I couldn't be happier being married to my best friend and the one man who never fails to treat me like an equal and his queen.  T is the brown sugar in my oatmeal, the mallows on my yams, and the whipped cream in my cocoa.

He adds a special sweetness to life that is just plain hard to live without!

Happy Thanksgiving.

My Dad.

My Dad taught me a lot.

He taught me that Oreo's and Milk go hand in hand and if you eat one without the other you have sinned a grievous sin.

From a young age, he taught me that cowboy boots were the one and only way to go.
(I like my fashion statement of a purple coat with cowboy boots)

He taught me to stick up for myself.
Which is why I was the only girl in the 4th grade to punch a boy in the nose for ruining my checkers game.

He taught me that girls are just a good as boys (if not better) and that he wouldn't have traded any of us girls for boys. Ever.

He taught me to love hiking. I heard the greatest stories about his childhood and hunting with Grandpa Great and his crazy uncles and cousins. Hiking has been one of my favorite past times as I hike in the back of the line with my Dad. He taught me to look up while you hike, not at the ground, and to see the beautiful surroundings that God created for us.


He taught me how to love. Unconditionally.

He taught me to respect my elders.

He taught me how to drive a stick shift.

He taught me how to treat my spouse and have an eternal marriage like my parents.

(picture courtesy of my ever talented husband)

He especially taught me how special a Father's love is.

I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Happy Father's Day, Dad.

A Father's Love

You know you have a good relationship with your Dad when you can...

laugh together
talk together
be serious together
cry together
and
listen to each other

...all in a matter of one hour.
The fact that you can talk together for over an hour in itself is a father/daughter success.

My Dad and I have had this kind of relationship for years.

He taught me patience as we waited for hours to see shooting stars.
He taught me how to waltz while I stood on his feet.
He used to make me beg for Oreo's like a dog before he'd give me one.
He's always been the joker of the family-he has a joke for everything!
He is an expert at anything outdoors.
He taught me how to shoot.
He taught me how to find the perfect guy.
He taught me how to fend for myself.
He gets me out of my raunchy moods when we're hiking.
He's a big part of why I have a testimony.
He taught me that life isn't perfect-suck it up and be happy anyways.
He's the all-around "fix-it" Dad.
He has the best Dad laugh in the whole world and has the best smile to go with it.
We're the only ones in our family that can wiggle our ears.
I have his bottom teeth (and his allergies to berries...)
He taught me how to love.

Today made me realize how lucky I am to have such an incredible father.


Thanks Dad.
I love you.