Our Second Home Together

I originally started this post shortly after November 2014 when we were looking for a new place to live. We went for a drive one afternoon and noticed there really are so many living options, most we had never heard of. We drove by a street of apartments we didn't know existed and thought they looked nice. A week later someone was selling their rent contract to those exact apartments. We moved into our new place November 1st! Here are some pictures I snapped of our first home before we moved out.

I thought it was important to finally document this now, since we moved again! That's right, on April 1st we moved to St. George, UT. (more on that later). We lived in this apartment for 1.5 years and totally loved it. It was perfect to us and it was so sad/fun/weird/exciting packing it up.  

 After 80% of everything was packed up I realized I never took a full picture of our 'front room' that consisted of our living room + dining room. Then I found some on my computer! But we had rearranged pictures/furniture twice since I took them haha. But you'll get the idea. The main thing not pictured is we did get out Texas sign hung above the TV ;) Oh, and I purposefully left out pictures of the 2nd bedroom and laundry room... you're not missing much!

Living Room 

Kitchen 

Master Bedroom 

Bathroom

Anniversary Weekend

Today is our wedding anniversary. Mostly yesterday, we celebrated being married for One Year. (six years being together). I can talk on and on about how fast the time has gone by or about the different memories we've made. 

I really am just so happy and grateful this man picked me. We have a been on a wonderful roller coaster this past year and when I stop to really think about it, there is no one else that I would rather be with, experiencing life and growing with one another. That's when in that moment I feel this immense amount of love for my husband and the life we have with one another. The first year was simply the best because I married my best friend; a man who is gentle, loving, understanding, kind and hilarious! He has kept me smiling and laughing. I look forward to this coming year and what ever it brings!

Yesterday we packed a lunch and drove to some hot springs to enjoy and relax- which was so nice! 

This was the only picture of the hot springs I took... because I feel awkward taking pictures of a bunch of people in pools wearing bathing suits. This one was mostly empty because it was HOT! I couldn't stand to be in it more than two minutes, and then I was only dipping my feet in it. 

We came home and cleaned up nice and headed to dinner! 

We went to a place that we've been hearing a ton about the past few months. Basically that it's pricy, but worth it because 'all you can eat steak'! We didn't call ahead or think about making a reservation, so that resulted in our 40 minute wait. That place is packed! We sat and chatted and drooled thinking about the delicious food. Once we were seated the rolls just kept coming, we ordered an appetizer (hello, super hungry) that was something else amazing and the dinner was so worth the wait because it was delicious. Eric had the all you can steak with a loaded bake potato and house salad. Technically you aren't aloud to share the steak... But he would cut a piece and slip it onto my plate- it was fantastic. I had a combo of chicken and steak fajitas, with black beans, spanish rice and all the great toppings. Eric finished his first steak and they brought out a second (which was considerably smaller that his first in the picture below). The second one was even better. It was so tender and juicy. Have I made you super hungry or what?? Bottom line... It was good! Check out Stockman's Restaurant in Idaho Falls.

skiing and then tumbling down in the snow.

Skiing is a love hate relationship for me. I loved every second of it until my body was exhausted!

I am usually all for going to school, attending all of your classes. I have semesters that I never missed a class, especially when I started nursing school. But Friday Eric decided not to 

attend a couple of classes and suggested we go skiing for the day!

It was my first time to try to ski. This Texas, born and raised, girl finally tried it after living in Idaho for almost 4 years. It was a little strange though that it's early february and we were skiing when it was 55 degrees.. whats up with this winter? I can't complain though, the day was BEAUTIFUL.

I was getting frustrated with the sticks on my feet early on until Eric told me I'm actually catching on reallllly quick. It felt great going down the bunny hill and I could actually stop at the bottom of it!

After the bunny hill two times we went to the ski lift... on I guess the "beginner" side?

I was so nervous, but that bunny hill was nothing, so I thought I had it. I learned really quick that you pick up speed fasssst. I left Eric behind and I didn't know how to slow down. I crashed and rolled a good ways down the hill. Then I just laid in the snow for what felt like forever until I finally saw Eric coming over the hill so carefully and slow. I thought how was he doing that?! Then he saw me and we both busted out laughing. 

I wrecked 4-5 more times and every time is was so fun rolling around in the snow and to have Eric somewhere behind me to laugh with me. I came home and watched 20 different olympic skiing videos. 

Now I truly understand the talent and skills they have!

Today, I'm not as sore as I was the day after. That was torture. And I'm sooo ready to do it again! 

fall time is also apple picking time

Eric came home from work way excited about 'the most delicious apple he's ever tasted'.

So it was off to the apple orchards to find this apple tree...
and taste every apple from over the 100 different apple trees!
This orchard is about a mile away from us and I've never been to it! I'd say it's a hidden secret of Rexburg.
I couldn't believe first, how beautiful it was and second, that there are actually that many different types of apples! And each apple we pulled off a tree and tasted was different!
Pulling fruit off a tree to eat makes me nervous so I always made Eric take the first bite, ha.
The apples that we picked to bring home are more of a light pink and called 'irish peach'.
Now I really just want to have an apple tree to pick in my backyard.
I don't know what it was about it, but it made me feel like it's really fall!

documenting august

Time just flew by this summer + especially august.

 I didn't document any of it! So be ready for a catch up!

For a week Eric and I were so lucky to spend a week at Snowbird. A summer resort tucked away in Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah. Eric's family has a timeshare and they have a huge family reunion every other summer. This was an off summer so we got it all to ourselves. But I am sooo looking forward to going back next summer!

I couldn't get over the view we woke up to every morning. The beautiful mountains right there and that fresh mountain air. Now I'm just making myself miss it... until next time Snowbird!

[This heated pool + hot tub + the steam room]

[Reading Elizabeth Smart's story.. It's a tear jerker. A woman of so much courage and faith during her hard trial.]

[Homemade spaghetti and garlic bread on our balcony]

We spent a day at Lagoon. My first time and it was so much fun playing with Eric! We only got one picture together this day while we were taking a relaxing ferris wheel ride. 

We also spent a day doing the activities at Snowbird. We did the mountain coaster and Alpine Slide over and over again! 

We also did the longest, hardest hike I've ever done. We hiked to the top of Hidden Peak in just under 3 hours. I was pretty proud of myself when we made it to the top. The beginning of a hike is always the hardest. I was having to get in the right mindset. After about 30 minutes in I was loving it. The hike was beautiful + we never really came across anyone. Then we got to our last trail, The Ridge. Hike the ridge of mountain, so basically hiking straight up, so we can get to the peak. That was the hardest part! I was exhausted haha but it was actually really fun. 

[See the ridge on the right? yeah that's what I'm talking about.]

Had to pick up this magnet for a little souvenir :)

Other random things happening: 

Someone left a microwave by our apartment complex mailboxes with a a 'free' sign. So I took it, tested it for a couple of days and sold it for $40. #winning

We got a comforter set from BBB in April when we got married and I really loved it. By now it started to not look as nice, really not the best quality and then... it ripped... and again... and then it had three rips in it! After writing an angry online review and finding out it's happened to other people who spent 150$ on it, I called BBB customer service to complain. The conversation lasted maybe a full minute? The nice lady [I felt bad for being so angry] told me to return it and pick out another or take in store credit. Was it really that simple? haha So we have a new set that is so much better! I find myself walking into the bedroom randomly just to look!

 Eric and I took the Idaho driving test to be become citizens of Idaho... We both failed. Yes, laugh. But Idaho has weird driving laws. I was happy I got to keep my TEXAS driving license for a little longer though. Since then I've retaken it, passed, and sadly gave up that Texas license. 

I used to be intimidated by cookbooks...and just flat out cooking. Now I would be so lost without them! I enjoy cooking so much.

[Chicken Parmesan and fresh green beans]

And I am super into meal planning. It makes it so much easier to cook and go to the grocery store in a busy schedule! I also feel like meal planning is a plus because we are eating healthier and eating out less.

August was SO much fun. Minus all of the studying for the NCLEX. [see previous post]
But now it's time to start gearing up for another semester of school!

I'm still here!

And as happy as ever! These past couple of months have been a whirl-wind. Soon after getting married we moved into our first apartment and started into a routine. This semester flew by for me going to school/ working part-time and Eric working full-time. It finally comes to a close this week for me! On Friday I am done with test, classes, clinical, projects... done with my ASN Nursing Degree! I can't wait to see all of our family for graduation next week!

Meanwhile this semester we've been making time for lots of fun. Idaho is a funny place. It's only beautiful for about 3 months out of the semester. If you've ever visited, you understand. We've had lots of bike rides, hikes and this past Saturday I had a first. I went white water rafting for the first time! I was probably the most nervous. Eric has been a ton on the Colorado River. But man, after a few miles on the river I was in a happy place.

We drove 3 hours to the Salmon River. That's the first thing I loved. Getting so far away from Rexburg and just forgetting about school work the whole day. I enjoyed just being in the moment all day. Our raft guide let us know when it was a safe to jump out and swim. Floating on my back, looking up at the blue sky, as the Salmon River flows through the mountains covered in pine trees, with a smile on my face, it was magical. And the sunburn is completely worth it!

We also enjoyed a wonderful 4th of July! Idaho Falls has the 2nd best firework show in the nation. And it didn't disappoint!

LOTS is planned for the month of August! Including my NCLEX test (boards for nursing license) and a vacation I have been

looking forward to forever now. 

Hiking + Snow Cones + More Ramblings

Going hiking and randomly stopping for snow cones have been our favorite things to do lately! 

My current favorite snow snowcone: Gummy Worms. A mix of Green Apple + Blue Raspberry

We finished ALL of the seasons of The Walking Dead.

I thought I was one to never watch that show. Then I was hooked.

Labor and Delivery nurses is where it's at.

I'm loving my preceptorship. 

even if it's the night shift.

We only wait for the movies to get to the cheap theater.

So we just saw 'The Other Woman'.

We laughed out loud the entire time 

and then thought "this is pretty inappropriate" haha

Inside jokes are our favorite thing.

We didn't realize we had so many until my little sister came over for dinner

and we laughed 95% of the time and she didn't get it.

If you aren't a fan of Jimmy Fallon something is wrong.

Have you seen his hashtag videos? If not, google it!

Anyways, E is hilarious at doing them in the most perfect moments of our day.

#sneakinin

#donedidit

There we go with our inside jokes again :) 

I finally ordered wedding pictures. 

That was a hard decision to choose which to print and not all 500.

Speaking of weddings...

What is the acceptable time to wait until you should probably start Thank You cards?

Eric banged up his finger pretty bad at work.

We didn't have any band-aides. I realized we didn't have any type of first aide kits.

Good thing I'm a nurse right? Ha!

We cooked our first meal in our crock pot.

It was delicccccccous! 

I'm almost done decorating our apartment. 

We aren't allowed to put holes in the wall.

Except I put two. oops :)

You know how everyone one else in the world is enjoying Summer besides BYU-Idaho?

Well my sweet summer is 6 weeks away!

That means graduation is in..... 34 days! 

We're hangin' in there!

About Our Home

I am loving our simple, little home. So. Much. We have been living in it for 4 weeks now, but it feels  like a lot longer. It's so comfortable, cosy, it's us. Within five to six (medium size) steps from the front door you are in our bedroom and in the other direction, our kitchen. Living so closely with someone has never been so fun! We have yet to find affordable kitchen chairs for our table. Funny huh? I let it bother me at first. I felt like the kitchen wasn't complete! But who cares. It's not about it looking perfect. In the mean time, we pushed our couch from the living room up to the kitchen table. Who has a comfy bench for their kitchen? ;) 

I love the little moments that we have had in our home and our adventures. There is constant laughter, service, and love. It is fun when you are serving the one you love, and you know what? You start to love them even more! I appreciate all the little things Eric does in our home for us. Sometimes our early morning and busy schedules reflect the way it looks and he takes care of things I don't even think about! I feel so blessed to be in our home. To be together. To feel the love for one another and to grow in our marriage. 

Snow Day

Today I took a fun afternoon in the snow. I think the snow is so beautiful. I'm so grateful to live here. I love sledding, snow angels, the way the snow falls so peacefully. And coming in from playing in it to drink hot chocolate. I've never had so much fun in snow. I have to learn to love it though if I'm going to live in it the next 4-5 months. I don't love driving in it, but I'm doing good learning. I love bundling up and headed out for an adventure in it.

 

You can do hard things

Have you ever had a task ahead of you or set a goal and then you felt that it was all unrealistic? 

I had that exact experience. 

After running a 5k back in July with some friends, we decided that we could take on anything. Basically, we had a runner's high. We signed up to be in a relay race of 38 miles. Yes, you read that right. Running 38 miles split up between us. It is the Temple to Temple relay race at BYU-Idaho. One member begins running at the Rexburg, Idaho temple and then your team ends up at the Idaho Falls, Idaho temple. We were crazy. Of course, our runners high was gone by September when it was time for the race. We thought "what in the world were we thinking signing up?" We all looked at the route of our leg of the race and got our t-shirts... there was no turning back.

I learned a couple of really neat things from this experience. 

1. You can do hard things.

2. We must keep moving forward in life. 

3. We are not meant to move through life alone.

It amazes me what are bodies are able to do. We each finished our leg of the race, many of us not stopping once. When you put your mind to something, you can do it! You can do hard things! I ran the first leg of the race. As I was running I was thinking about how we are all progressing through life. Since I started the relay I felt kind of unproductive. I felt like my part was small compared to the other team members who ran closer to the end of the race and were getting to finish point. Sometimes in life we feel like we aren't moving very far. I was running against the bitter wind and it was hard to see the difference I was making. Sometimes life feels like that. We get hit with something, like the wind, that pushes us a little further back than we would like. But we have to keep moving forward. In our case, moving forward towards the temple. We did it and we did it as a team. I believe we were each able to make our leg of the race so great because our team was there cheering each other on. I couldn't of done it by myself. A support system is awesome. We all felt so accomplish when we ran through the finish line at the Idaho Falls temple. 

 At the beginning, the Rexburg temple!

 Finished at the Idaho Falls temple! 

Our team name was "buns on the run." This picture needed to be taken.