Simple Things

I wanted to be sure to record some of the simple things Randy and I enjoy doing together at this stage of our lives. In no particular order-

Going grocery shopping together

Wandering through used book stores

Going to the temple

Playing with the animals

Sitting in the living room and talking for hours about anything and everything 

Going out to eat

Dairy Queen Blizzards (mint oreo for me and oreo for Randy)

Playing board games 

Planning 

Serving others

Sharing interesting articles with each other 

Geocaching

Hiking

24th Birthday

My sweet Randy did an awesome job for my birthday. He got up early with me and spoiled me with a yummy breakfast of bacon and waffles. I worked about a half a day at WADDL and my wonderful coworker surprised me with brownies, ice cream, and cookies and a Winter cat inspired card at 8:30 in the morning. Randy told me he had planned something for the day but wouldn't tell me what it was. That afternoon we toured the Appaloosa Horse Museum in Moscow which is somewhere I have always wanted to go. Afterwards we headed the Arboretum at the University of Idaho. It was beautiful! We almost had the place to ourselves. The park is divided by continents and it was cool to see what native plants there are in different parts of the world. I want to go back in the fall to see the leaves change colors.

After we explored the many different parts of the arboretum we headed to game shop and then to Wendy's to 'waste' a little time and enjoy some chocolate Frosties because it was so hot and we didn't spend quite as much time at the arboretum as Randy had intended. Once we were a bit refreshed we went to the mall and did some people watching when suddenly Randy said it was time to go. We drove across the parking lot to Sangrias, one of my favorite restaurants. To my surprise Brooklin and Brett were waiting for us at a table. Brooklin had decorated the booth with a happy birthday sign, helium balloons, a table cloth along with beads for everyone to wear. I also got a leis and giant star sunglasses. 

After dinner we headed back to our house to play games. I walked in the door and the ceiling was covered in streamers and star dangily things and another happy birthday sign. Brooklin had come over while we were out and decorated. I loved it! Growing up we always decorated the house with streamers for birthdays. Brooklin and Brett stayed over until about 1 am! We were having too much fun visiting and eating a delicious jello cake that Randy had made to go to bed early. It was an awesome day. Thanks Dear for taking such good care of me! 

Wish I had a better picture of the incredible streamers! 

  

Fly Fishing

Our 3 year anniversary is tomorrow! It has been an incredible journey so far and I am looking forward to millions more! To celebrate Randy, Mitch, and I went fly fishing for small mouth bass yesterday with Lorraine, my boss from WADDL. This was the first time we have fished together as a couple. We got up early and headed south to a smaller river off the Snake River. It was beautiful and we had the place to ourselves!

We spent all day at this spot. I caught 3 fish and had a bunch of bites. Randy caught the first fish of the day and a whole bunch more. To make up for it I caught the biggest fish of the day. I also learned that the dorsal fins are spiny and how to 'lip' a bass.

Mitch loved it! He ran up and down the bank. I would turn around and he would be taking himself for a swim up the river as if he had some where very important to be. Lorraine showed him a couple fish and he thought that was the greatest thing in the world. He caught two of them in his mouth! Its a good thing he knows the command Drop It! After Lorraine would let the fish go he would swim around looking for it or would intently watch her waiting for the fish to come back. It was hilarious how intent he was on finding the fish.

While we were fishing an osprey flew around a few times and landed near by. Randy got a few cool pictures, just wish the power lines weren't in the way, but his facial expressions were pretty sweet. 

By the end of the day we were super tired but we had a great time. My wonderful boss treated us to Fazzari's pizza for dinner.  It was a blessing to be able to go on this trip. I wasn't sure what we were going to do for our anniversary. I wanted to do something special but as poor collage students anything too fancy was out of our budget. This was perfect! We spent a day together learning new skills, spent the entire time outside, Mitch got to come and all it cost was our time and two day fishing licences. 

We are already starting to plan our next fishing trip. Hopefully my schedule will allow us to go again before the end of the year. 

Tim McGraw!!!

Last Febuaray, my best friend Brittany from high school invited me to come to Utah for a Tim McGraw concert. She knew I had never been to a concert before and wanted to take me for my birthday. I have awesome friends.

 My dad, who is a pilot for Delta, flew into Spokane Wednesday night and would stay until Friday when he would fly the first flight home. My mom and Ashley flew to Spokane as well on that flight Wednesday night and mom and I flew to Salt Lake on the early Friday morning flight. Randy and I drove up Thursday to spend the day with my family. Randy and I met my parents at their hotel and then headed to the the Flying Goat for some pizza with friends. When my family lived in Florida, we shared out back fence with the Richards family. They moved to Spokane around the same time my family moved to Utah. It was these friends we met up with for some delicious pizza at the Flying Goat. After we stuffed ourselves full, we went birthday shopping for me! One of the outfits I bought Brittany had years earlier. Great minds think alike right? We went to the Richard's house for dinner. Once again I ate way too much, but it was all so good.

Early Friday morning we headed to the airport. My dad did a great job flying and on the landing. This is the first time my dad has ever been my pilot in a commercial plane. It was so cool!

I spent most of Friday with my mom running errands. We visited my Aunt Kamie, my cousin Amber and her husband Zach and their two kids, one is about 2 months old. We watched old videos of mom and Kamie dancing on their high school dance team.

That night I met up with Brittany for the concert and dinner at Zupas! We had so much fun! My throat hurt from singing so much! He sang a bunch of old songs which made me happy. :) He didn't talk much nor was the performance super flashy, but Tim McGraw sounded like he does on the radio and that's all I cared about. He did a tribute to his daughters and wife. He also gave away a new home to a soldier and talked about America and his gratitude for the troops.

The next morning Brittany and I visited another long time friend Christina. Christina and I met in the 5th grade when I lived in Utah and afterwards were collage roommates. She got married last year and had a baby boy on the 4th of July this year. I haven't seen her in about 2 years! It was just wonderful to spend a few precious minutes catching up with her. 

Thank you Miss Brittany for an awesome weekend and incredible birthday present!!!