picnic dinner

Sometimes this is what summer is all about. And sometimes we forget. But that evening we remembered.

Two years

Two years. My two favorite parts of you. The ability you have to make me laugh, at any and every given moment. Your pure sweetness.

Not many people can work with their spouse every day and feel like that is still not enough time together, but we do. I love you every moment. 

*pictures by the talented Justin Hackworth. 

It has begun

Alden and I have an obsession. And with the warmer weather creeping in I feel it coming to the surface. Getting out of bed in the morning on a weekday is a battle, but getting out of bed before 8 on a Saturday in the spring..... that is like Christmas morning, every Saturday.

We are avid garage sale shoppers. And we aren't the only ones, I will tell you that much. Although we are by far the youngest and dare I say, the hippest? I had a meeting last Saturday and I came home to Alden unloading this beauty. He told me it was kind of a lot of money but he really liked it so he just had to get it. I asked how much it was to which he replied, two-fifty.

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS?!
Nope. $2.50. TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS.
The man selling the credenza talked himself down from $5 to $2.50.

Quite a bargain that boy of mine.
Now....where to put it?

Week Review

Last Weeks Highlights included

Lots of delicious food, like oatmeal with a dollop of whip cream, the yummy pancakes I told you about here, shish kabobs on the BBQ with our friends and homemade créme brûlée. Wow, that dessert is so much more satisfying when you make it yourself. Thank you Beards for bringing the flame thrower.

I tagged along with Alden on his weekly bouldering trip to the gym and watched him test out his new longboard (go jaseboards!). But I think my favorite thing to watch this week was Alden holding sweet baby Vivian. I think Alden is going to be a baby whisperer, I can just feel it.

I started Nie Nie's book "Heaven is Here" and I'm having a hard time putting it down. And last but not least spring is upon us! There are blossoms and flowers everywhere and our backyard is green and lush. Summer come quick!

Easter

Holidays are fun when you get married because you get to share and start your own traditions. Growing up my mom would fill our baskets with goodies and hide them. They weren't your typical hiding places either. It took us HOURS to find them. I didn't really give Alden a choice of what tradition we were going to do this year. We were hiding baskets! Poor Alden doesn't have the years of experience like I do. I found my basket the VERY first place I looked. He probably would have looked all day for his if I wouldn't have given him a big fat clue too. (Do you want to know my secret?... Tie the basket to a hanger and pick a big heavy coat to hang around it. Then just hang the coat back in the closet!)

We spent Easter with Alden's family. It was a nice day full of strawberry rhubarb pie and blueberry tarts. My mom bought my sister and I Easter dresses while I was home (thanks mom) so naturally we had to get an Easter picture in our pastels.

We went to Church and pondered on the real reason for the season. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have of a loving Savior who knows me personally and died for me. What a beautiful time of year to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the rebirth all around.

What are some of your fun Easter traditions?

ps. Alden and I became hooked on Hello Panda cookies when we lived in Hawaii so when I saw them at Target I had to get them for his basket. If you come across some BUY THEM RIGHT AWAY and then EAT THEM RIGHT AWAY. And buy an extra box too.... because you might not want to share.

Rainy Day Origami

It's been misting here in California today. I don't like to call it rain. Its too wimpy to be considered rain. But its refreshing none the less.

An excuse for breakfast in bed, bouldering at the gym, and trying something new. Like origami.

Wanna make your own crane?

To the Moon and Back

I decided for Valentines Day we would each make a hand crafted Valentine for each other. Just to spice things up and make Valentines Day a little more personal.

No wonder Alden was wide awake this morning anxious to give me mine (It only took him 3+ hours to make it). He outshined me by a long shot.

You learn a lot of things being married. Somehow when I got married I didn't fully understand what I was getting. I was getting THE BEST. Everyday Alden is more talented, loving, sweet and kind than the last.

This guy has already taken me to the moon and back.

Happy Valentines Day Darling.

CA 1 Road Trip: The Big Picture

After arriving in Monterey our virst stop in the morning was Carmel-by-the-Sea. We went down to the beach and then decided to check out a local mission.


Next we headed down the coast and stopped at different view points to take a look at the coast. This stop is Bixby Bridge.


Next we drove through Big Sur, the redwood groves that dot the coast. The elevation jumps and we stopped at Nepenthe, a beautiful indoor outdoor restaurant where we had hot apple cider and breakfast at 3:00 in the afternoon. Being on a mountain, in the forest, on the edge of the ocean eating breakfast might just be as good as it gets.

Alden had heard of this place, McWay falls, and had wanted to go for YEARS. Lucky for us it was part of the drive. Talk about BEAUTIFUL. Can you see the waterfall coming out of the rock? The only down side is there is no accesses to the beach, at least no legal/safe access. Alden was pretty disappointed but in the end we decided it wouldn't be nearly as beautiful if there were a million tourists down there.

Sunset kisses...


The next day we got up and went to Pismo beach to see the Monarch butterflies. It wasn't what I expected (the butterflies were hanging in the trees about 20 feet up) but it was still really neat.

We ended our trip eating Mexican at Morro Bay. That giant rock is actually the pit of an old volcano. Can you believe it?

When doing our research for the trip we came across an article by National Geographic about driving the CA 1. It had lots of great stops, I only wish we could have hit them all. Click here to check out the article.

BIRTHDAY WEEK

Alden's birthday week started out with a bang. On Friday while I was at work Alden's sister Addie showed up out of no where. Currently she is going to school at BYU-Idaho but she decided to pop in this weekend for a surprise. And boy were we surprised!

Alden was still in DC on business at the moment, getting ready to board a plane and come home just to catch the tail end of his birthday (hence the need for a brithday week!).

Addie had the idea that we take BART (the subway) into the airport and surprise Alden and his mom as they got off the plane. BRILLIANT! So we got on BART with signs and balloons in hand (and camera!.. only to discover I forgot my SD card...Rats!)

We made it to the airport with perfect time and ran to meet them at their exit. The double surprise made for and exciting start to Alden's 24th Birthday week.

We then ate homemade German chocolate cake and chips a salsa (what birthday boy wants, birthday boy gets).

The next day included garage selling (our favorite past time), brunch at the Hunts, shopping, Thai food, going to the movie Moneyball and stake conference. Pretty much all of our favorite things rolled into one day.

*Picture includes a slice of Alden's cake as well as a card I threw together via this inspiration.

Happy Birthday my darling.
23 was a crazy year mostly. but I am proud of you. I don't know many 23 24 year olds that do what you do. your positive attitude amazes and motivates me daily. I love you more than all the stars.

Welcome to 24. I've been waiting for you.

Top 10 Signs you are ready for you husband to come home.

10. You've been sleeping with a stuffed monkey at night.
9. You ate half a bag of Salt and Vinegar chips for dinner because you remembered that cooking isn't very fun if there is no one to cook for.
8. You've watched so many episodes of "So you think you can dance" that you are starting to actually think you can dance.
7. You have started seeing things at night... like men coming in your window, which actually turns out to be the big tree out back.
6. You remembered that you are afraid of the dark.
5. You have painted 3 layers of paint on your fingernails and really want to paint on a fourth.
4. You watched a spider crawl around your room all night only to get up the courage to smash it at six in the morning.
3. You then had to kill a spider in the shower too. Eeek!
2. You've had to take out the trash, twice!

And the number one sign you are ready for your husband to come home........

You just really miss your best friend.

Good news... he is coming home tonight!

The gift that keeps on giving...

See that big box in the first picture?... The really cool wood one?.... Oh ya. That is my anniversary present. And I LOVE IT! "What is it?" you might ask. Good question. I don't know. All I know is that it plays music straight from the radio (and from records!) and blasts it through the entire house. So of course it is set to 103.7 (oldies) because what else would it play?.. Hip Hop? I think not.

Alden scored big on Saturday while I was helping with a friends wedding. Yep, you guessed it, a garage sale. We are addicts. In the best way of course. How could you resist this beauty tho?... PLUS we got the lamp, records, and record holder... for $20, that's highway robbery people!

I still haven't decided what I love more tho... our music box or this awesome homemade sign Alden made. I think I will keep it up all year. Ya know, celebrate ALL our anniversary's. And if you aren't convinced yet, Alden also got me peonies (see picture #2). That sealed the deal, icing on the cake, cherry on top. That boy is the apple of my eye I tell you. And you remember our credenza of course!

Aren't you proud of me for posting pictures of the house too?.... Its coming along. This little cottage is turning into a mid century meets modern mash up and we love it. Come visit us, PLEASE!

Stay tuned this week. Alden is out of town so I will be doing all sorts of projects and posts!

Happy Anniversary!

*pictures by the talented Justin Hackworth

Happy one year anniversary to my best friend.
Thank you for a first year full of laughs and adventure.
You are my everything. I can't wait for our many years to come.

ps. Stay tuned for some postage this week (I know, I've been slacking!)
I can't wait to show you what Alden gave me for our anniversary, seriously...
this guys is THE BEST.

Cottage Day 1: I have the best husband

• 3 loads of laundry in my own machines!
• Lots of unpacking/hanging clothes
• My own Kitchenaid!... (The real reason all us girls get married)
• Alden coming home from work with a bouquet of baby roses for me!...I'm not the only one who dreams of fresh flowers in my own home am I?
• Making chocolate chip cookies in my new Kitchenaid with husband. mmmmmmmmmm.
• Waking up to Alden wearing my apron, serving me breakfast in bed (see above)
• Breakfast: Hot cocoa, toast, and bacon. YES.
• Alden giving me a gift! (Some makeup I was wanting.) what a CUTE BOY!!!!!!

I'm so blessed. In so many ways. Can't believe I married such a good man. He is my everything. My best friend. I'm so excited for our new life at the cottage.

PLAY BALL!

Alden and I got the best seats in the house last night (front row behind the dugout), thanks to a fellow A's fan who Alden's father had befriended during past seasons. When Jon passed, this friend contacted us and gave us tickets to the game of our choice.

We just so happened to choose a game that ALMOST got canceled due to rain, but after an hour and half delay we were good to go! Alden and I came highly prepared, me with my purple people eater poncho (you all remember that song, right) and him with his fittingly appropriate green one. We had cushiony seats and a water proof blanket, thermal underware and wool gloves... for a moment I felt like I was back in Idaho with all those layers but the bright stadium lights brought me back to reality.

The game was exciting. We played our rivals, the L.A. Angels. We came back in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game. Which meant extra innings at 11 o clock at night, in the rain. But we stood our ground and continued to cheer. Which paid off because they won and we got a ball from one of the players!

ps. See that guy on the right, in the last picture. Thats Coco Crisp. Yep, COCO CRISP.