Stephanie's Visit

We had a wonderful time with Stephanie! I decided the easiest way to share some of our adventures is through pictures. As Stephanie was much better at taking pictures while she was here, these are all her pictures.

Thursday morning, Stephanie, Mitch, and I went for a short hike. On top of the hill there is this ancient fruit tree. Its either a cherry or apple tree but I can't remember at the moment. I think this is such a cool old tree. We think there used be an orchard up here a long time ago and this tree is the only remaining witness.

After we got back from the hike Randy, Stephanie, and I went on a ride. Tie was not happy that he got left behind, but when we got back Randy worked with him on the ground. Here Randy is asking him to walk over the dirt mounds.

While Randy was working with Tie and I was working with Tag we let the other two horses, Montana and Sax, roam around the barnyard with us. I loved this picture Stephanie took of Montana mid-chew. After we were finished with the horses we went down town Spokane for dinner at Red Robin and to show Stephanie some of the cool shops.

On Friday, Stephanie came to work with me. I babysit from 7:15 am to about 4:30ish pm on Fridays and then I work at the clinic from 5 to about 7 or whenever I finish the chores. This is one of the babies at the clinic. He is a comic act and always makes me laugh. He was quite curious about Stephanie.

This is one of the stallions at the clinic.  He is in LOVE with the manure wheelbarrow. I am pretty sure he would follow me anywhere as long as he could keep his nose in the wheel barrow.

On Saturday Stephanie and I played ground games with Tag and Sax. Here is Stephanie with Sax after she finished working with him. They worked really well together and both had a good time. 

After we were done with the horses, the three of us when to Green Bluffs for lunch. Green Bluffs is a farming community that is mostly organic and is located on a hill top. During the summer and fall you can buy fresh produce and during Halloween there are corn mazes.We had lunch at  a quaint little cafe that over looks some orchards. The weather was perfect and it was nice to just sit and enjoy the sunshine.

On Monday I went to work and Randy took Stephanie to see some of the gardens including the one were we got engaged. On Tuesday, the three of us went on hike. I think this is one of the cutest dogs that went on the walk.. do you think I could be a bit biased? :D

After the hike we all saddled up and went for another ride. All of the horses were on their best behavior and Stephanie fell in love with Sax. She really wanted to take him home with her, but Shannon would not allow it :)

I love this picture of the two brothers. They were upset that we didn't let them out, but they had another hour to go before it was time for their pasture time.



On Wednesday  I made sticky buns for breakfast and then Randy took Stephanie to the airport while I ran off to work. We had an amazing time visiting with an old friend and hope we can get together again soon.

Another Blessed Day

Yesterday we went down to Pullman to go house shopping and I had set up three appointments ahead of time. Once we got to Pullman we picked up Shannon and her little G Dog. Our first appointment was at 10:30 at an apartment complex. The place was fine, older, but it would work. We then drove around a couple trailer parks before our next appointment which was at noon. At one of the trailer parks we found a mobile home with a For Sale sign. I was NOT impressed by the outside of this one. It had been stripped of paint and there were old toilets in the yard-yuck! But Shannon got out to write down the phone numbere and to peek in the windows. I figured that since we were here I might as well get out and look too. Boy was I surprised when I looked in the window! It had been totally remodeled!! There were still paint cans and plastic on the floor, but we could tell the carpet was brand new. Once we looked as much as we could, we got back in the truck and I called the number. I was able to get ahold of the seller and set up and appointment for 1 pm that day.

We then went to the trailer park where our next appointment was located. We drove around and found another cute little place for sale. There was some landscaping done and the neighbor let us in to look around. It was very nice with a little kitchen with small appliances and wood floors. So we wrote down the phone number for that one and headed off to our appointment. On the minute drive up to the trailer, Randy got a phone call. He has an interview for a job next Tuesday!!!! Whats even better is this job is based just 45 minutes south of Pullman. It is a temporary job through December, but it pays a lot better then his current job. The job entails radio tracking big horn sheep so it will be what he is doing now except with big horn sheep instead of sage grouse. We then pull up to our  next stop and my first impression.... the yard its bit run down, fixable but it would take a lot of work. There was a nice high fence which is a big plus, but then we enter the house. I was shocked. It was trashed!!!! I mean there weren't any counter tops because they were covered in books, paper, and food. The bedrooms were crammed full of stuff including one of the bathrooms!!!!! So any ways that was a big no.

We headed to lunch as it was after 12 and we were starving. I think the place we had lunch was called Cougar Drive-In or something like that and it had  the- BEST GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICH. I was wishing it was bigger because it was soooo yummy.

Once done we went back to the remodeled place for our appointment. A woman about 70 years old met us and she told us she had raised her family in this unit. She and her sister had remodeled the whole thing! We were all super impressed and it was beautiful inside. Her previous renters had trashed the unit so she decided to remodel it and sell it. Anyways this little single wide mobile home is awesome.
It has - a new subfloor, new windows (double paned windows which will save us a lot of money on heat bills :D ) new insulation, new outlets, new plumbing, new toliets (which is why there were old toliets outside waiting to go to the dump), new paint (these relaxing neutral  colors with pretty white trim), new counters, new carpet, new laminate flooring, the roof was  replaced 2 years ago, a super cute kitchen with a breakfast bar and a PANTRY (most places we looked at did not have a pantry so this extra bit of storage a is a big bonus), 3 larger bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a new fridge, the washer and dry hook ups were NOT in the bathroom but instead were out of the way in the hallway with shelving above the hookups, a yard, close to a bus stop, two sources of heat a furnace and gas, A/C, and right across from the community gardens where you can rent a lot to grow veggies, and its only a 10-15 walk from campus!!  And to top it off the price was in our budget! I was amazed!!! While we were there, Randy came up to me and said, "This is the one" and I agreed 100%! It has everything we wanted and more. I am so glad we did not go forward with our last offer, as it could not hold a candle to this new place. And of course I brought my camera with me, but left it in the truck and forgot about it until after we left the mobile home. So the next time we go down I will make sure to take a few pictures to share.

After we were finished I called our last appointment and cancelled. We went to the lot manager's house to pick up the paper work for the lot lease. When I told the manager which unit she was concerned because she had just recieved a year lease contract from another person for that same lot. Internally I start freaking out. The manager is a sweet lady and gave me all the necessary paper work. As soon as I  get back in the truck I ask Randy's dad to call the seller right now to put in an offer. He was able to get hold of her and we have a verbal agreement. She is going to finish up the last few modifications including painting the outside. I was so excited and wanted to celabrate by going to Dairy Queen.

Once we got home we found out that one of our very good friends Carlee was engaged! This Carlee claims to be the matchmaker for Randy and I. This was just the icing on the cake of a day filled with blessings. After we did some lawn care Randy laid in the hammock while I played with Mitch were the sprinkles on the cake!

Once  again I have been taught that my Heavenly Father knows me, understands my needs, and loves me very much! His plan and desires for Randy and I are always greater then what we could put together ourselves.This is just another experiece that has strengthed my faith and trust in God.

May you have a blessed day!

Back to Square One

After the inspection of the mobile home was completed, we learned that quite a bit of work was needed to get it up to speed. My dad said he could fix the issues  but it would cost a couple extra thousands dollars. So we hummed and hawed and thought it over many times and have finally decided to pull back on this property. So now we are back to where we started. We are going to Pullman this Thursday to look at few other properties for sale and for rent. I am hoping we will be able to find something that will fit our needs. Randy really would prefer to have some sort of yard for Mitch and I just want it to be cheap, comfortable, and near a bus stop. :D

Yesterday I started getting really worried about finances and finding a place to live and all the concerns that go along with making big decisions. I wasn't the happiest person when we got to church, but once the sacrament began to be passed I felt a sudden calm gently enfold me- the kind of peace and clarity that can only come from God. I felt reassured that everything is going to work out, everything will fall into place at the right time. Now when I notice that I am starting to get over anxious I  try to remember that feeling, that reassurance that God is mindful of me and everything is going to work out.

However on a happier note- We are having an amazing time with Stephanie. We have gone riding, played ground games with the horses, made yummy food, had lunch at a cute little country store under a BEAUTIFUL blue sky, watched movies, talked for hours, went for walks, and luckily its not over yet! Today Randy is taking her to some of the amazing parks around here including the one where we got engaged. I am working, so was not able to go. But we should have a good time together tonight. Hopefully I will be able to put up some pictures soon... but I might have to steal some of them from Stephanie. :D


Have a wonderful Monday.

 PS-
We are going to the temple this Wednesday for a sealing session. This will be the first time we have been to sealing since our wedding day. I have been wanting to go for a while now, but our work schedules and the temple schedules conflict, but this week we have an exception!

Delicious Bran Muffins

I am sitting her anxiously awaiting the arrival of Randy and Stephanie! I figured I better do something with my time so I don't go crazy! So I decided to bake :D

I promise I will not become a a cooking blog (there are so many good ones Desperate Chefwife and Our Best Bites are some of my favorites), but I wanted to share these super easy, but super delicious and healthy bran muffins with you. I'm pretty sure these are going to become a staple in our house... as a fast breakfast or a snack.

Randy's grandfather found this recipe years and years ago on a bran box, made some modifications and sent it to Randy's mother who has gladly shared them with me. So its only fair that I pass on the goodness. 

I wanted to try adding blueberries this time. Wish me luck!

1 cup wheat bran

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 raisins (optional) 

1 tsp. baking powder 

1 tsp soda 

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup honey

2 tbs oil

1 egg beaten

1/2 cup applesauce (add more if you want moister muffins)

Preheat oven to 450

Bake 12-15 minutes 

Makes 12 muffins 

Grandpa likes to add about 3/4 cup applesauce and a banana. I have yet to try this combination, but I bet it would be yummy.

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl and put all of the wet ingredients in a smaller bowl.

Combine all together in the large bowl.

Spray the muffin tins with non-stick spray. You can use the muffin paper things, but I usually just spray.

Since I am using frozen blueberries- add them at the very last minute to prevent streaking in the muffins.

Cook for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and WALA- Yummy Yummy Muffins!

Feeling a Need to Write

We started this blog to be our journal. Our intent is to print  out a copy of our blog each year for our children to read (if they ever feel so inclined). For this reason I want to share a bit about our first 9 months of marriage.

We were married in the Bountiful LDS temple on August 4, 2011 at 10 am. My family stayed at Grandma Kay's house. I was certian I  wasn't going to be able to sleep a wink, but somehow I drifted off to sleep until my alarm woke me. Amber Spencer (my cousin) came over a little before 6 to start working on my hair. Kristina Rowley, our photographer, was also there to document the occasion. One of my best friends and bridesmaids, Brittany, came a little later to help me with my makeup. Once I was ready, my dad gave me a priesthood blessing. Then mom, dad, and I piled into the rental car and headed up to the temple. We were supposed to be there at 8:30 and we were running just about 5 minutes behind. I think Randy was starting to get a bit nervous when we weren't there on the dot :).

The brides room in the temple was just beautiful! I felt like a princess. When Randy and I entered the sealing room- it was packed. Many of my family members from both of my parents side and  friends (some traveled all the way from Florida to be there) were there. It was wonderful to be surrounded by people who loved and supported us. During the ceremony, I giggled. I was so happy I couldn't help myself. When Randy proposed I also laughed and giggled then (he still gives me a hard time about that).

After we finished in the temple we went outside and took like a million pictures! We really do have the best friends and family any person could ask for. Once all the family pictures were taken, Randy and I stayed for some couple shots while everyone else went to Sizzler for something to eat.When we were finished with the pictures Randy and I stopped by, but when some where else to eat. In Bountiful there is a little building that half of it is a Jamba Juice and the other half a Great Harvest Bread store. As smoothies and bread are my two favorite foods we went there to eat. Super yummy!! We then headed off to our reception hall- The Castle. It was wonderful to get there early enough to have a few moments to ourselves and start to soak in what really just happened. Our wonderful friend Sylvia came a little early which was perfect because the boys needed help tying their scarves and she is pretty much a pro! From then on everything went smoothly. We took more pictures of just the two of us and then with all the family and friends. Everything was so beautiful, Randy danced with me, and the food was yummy, and pretty much the perfect party. Well at least for me it was, I don't know about anyone else, but I would looove to have another party like that again and soon!!! When it was time for us to go everyone held up sparklers for us to run through. Dark clouds started to gather and there was clap of thunder and a flash of lightening. I love thunder storms so it couldn't have been a better ending!
I am married to the kindest, hard working, gentle, strong, amazing man! I don't know how I got to be so lucky!

The next day we headed off to Oregon. We spent our honeymoon in Lincoln City, but decided to take 2 days to get there. We stayed their about 6 days then headed back to Utah. On the way back we did the trip in one day. The following day we headed off to Cheyenne WY for another reception/open house. It was so fun to see where Randy grew up and to put faces to people he talked about. The next day Randy headed back to Colorado for work and I, Shannon, and Cindy headed up here to Washington. Randy and I  had about 10 days together before we had to be apart for just under 2 months. Randy needed to finish up his job and I needed to start on my internship so I could officially graduate. I walked across the stage that July, I had finished all of my classes except for my internship. Amazingly we were able to spend 3 days together during this time. My 98 year old great grandmother passed away and we both traveled to Utah for the funeral. The following months were difficult, but not unbearable. I came to live with a wonderful family, got to work with amazing people at the vet clinic, and was surrounded by animals. I learned a little bit more how to rely on Heavenly Father and that it is a choice to be happy. Because of Jesus Christ I can be happy despite challenging situations. I learned and am still learning the great strength that comes from prayer and I know that my prayers are answered, even the simplest ones. As we move forward for the next adventure in our lives it will be hard. Most likely Randy will be away during the week and I will have to learn how to prioritize spending time with him, work, and studying. This will be the first time we will live on our own together. I am very excited to setup a house together, to work together, and to become closer together.