The latest project....

I'm skipping ahead a little bit in my "catching up" timeline, but I had to share a picture of what we worked on for most of Memorial Day Weekend and most of last night.

I'll post a before and after pic. later, so you can see the difference.

I'm calling it my castle- cause it's just that awesome.

Denver...

Now that I look through my pictures, I realize that they're 4/5 of food. I guess you can tell what I was excited about for this trip!

I got to go to attend a class with a co-worker of mine. Candice and I were "on the hunt" for good food. Although, the class we went to: "Petroleum Engineering for the Non-Engineer" was a great glass! I learned so much, and I also learned that I knew more than I thought I did, which is always awesome.

I'm basically a sucker for a good bakery. Candice got the "Cookie Dough" Cupcake and I got the "Snickers" Cupcake. They didn't disappoint.

The Lava Cake from "The Chophouse" -- I always expect lava cakes to be warm-- this one wasn't, so I  wasn't amazed. Plus I don't love fruit and chocolate, and that red "drizzle" was raspberry.

We stopped for Gelato at Amore's Gelato Shop twice while on this trip. It was super delicious. Candice tried starting with a small cup, but by the time she got all her "scoops" chosen, they had to graduate her up to a large cup. Pretty funny, but she ate it! It was super yummy!

Every time I see a Horse-drawn carriage, I think of my dad. He loves his horses and loves to hitch them up to the wagon and have them pull, so I had to send him a picture of the one that was at the 16th street mall.

The Bruschetta from Maggiano's. Our entire meal at this place was amazing. I love Italian food, so that might have swayed my "vote" a litte, but still-- so delicious.

Also, Note to self. Anytime I have to go back to Denver in the future, it is so worth it  to just Fly. It's a 1 hour flight on a tiny plane vs. 6 Hours of crappy driving a crappy company truck into a super busy city with crapp-ily named streets.

Never again, will I drive to Denver, unless I absolutely have to.

Little planes. They're the way to go! 

April

We kept ourselves plenty busy during April, Visiting with family, playing with Justin's new camera, I traveled a little bit (separate posts will come later), I refinished a bed frame, and worked in the yard a little ...Just waiting for that summer weather.  

Ace is getting so so big. He's almost 1 now. I can't even believe it.

I got "Bakers Fever" or something and went all out on some cupcakes. Home made Vanilla cupcakes with {the best} butter cream frosting, and drizzled with a Vanilla Creme' an glaze.
Yumm-o!

We have a new Rue 21 in town, and they are feeding my "big ring" addiction.

I got to tackle a HUGE project at work. I spent hours and hours printing, sorting, page protecting, sorting again and compiling MSDS sheets for our Frac Guys. Whew. We had some crazy # like- over 12000 pieces of paper for 20 books.
Soooo glad it's over!

After one Sunday Dinner, I got to snuggle baby Zoey to sleep. So sweet.

Ace got a bath.

Justin's mom broke out the photo albums and we got to "relive" Justin growing up. It was really fun to see all the old pictures, and his BRIGHT blond hair when he was little. He's always been an athlete ;)

My Liddy girl. Helpin in the yard.

The beginning of the bed I painted Black. It's SOOO much prettier now that it's black. I love all her pretty little curves!

Justin bought a new spiffy camera...He's been having a Grand-E-ole-time taking some awesome pictures with it!

The Bed- After it's been repainted. Love it.

One of Justin's awesome Pump Jack pictures.

One Tuesday, Justin was off and I was at work, so he took the dogs out in the hills and let them run and play while he hiked. Liddy came back muddier than muddy can be, but you can't tell me that she isn't "smiling" in this picture.

They sure love Hiking with their dad!


Also in April:
I got to spend some time in Denver to go to a training for work. It was a great training, and we got some really amazing food while we were there!
I also spent 4 days in The Woodlands/Houston, TX for a Quarterly meeting for work. Lots of travel. Super pretty area.
My little brother turned 21 on the 21st. It's amazing how time flies. He's still too little to be 21!
Justin got to play in The Ice Breaker tournament, which is the "kick off" tournament for the Season of Men's City League Softball.

Easter

On Easter Sunday, we went up Dry Fork Canyon to Dye Eggs and have dinner with my family. Hailey and Natalie were astonished that you could dip an egg twice and have it change colors/make stripes, etc.

It was a blast! 

After easting a cupcake and getting the frosting everywhere, I teased Natalie and asked her what was on her face. "Cupcake Slime" she says.
Awesome.

Hunting Eggs.

Poppa Helped!

Mr. Potato head glasses are the coolest thing now apparently.

I sure love my family. These little girls are adorable. I love them to pieces, they're so much fun and it's a blast watching them learn and grow. It just goes by so fast! 

Softball Tournament-- from March

I finally get to play catch-up! It's going to be fun! So many pictures to share ;)

Headed to the city for the Taylorsville Softball tournament.

He was so excited to go!

After our long day of shopping, I got ready to go out...

While Justin slept

I got to go to the Piano Bar with Wendy. First time in a bar, it was a piano bar in downtown SLC though, and it was so cool! Just the music was fantastic. Super fun- even without all the bets to see who could get me drunk. They were taking bets to see if I was going to take a drink or not. Proud to say- I didn't cave. Never have, so why start now? ;)

My bar stamp...cause I'm awesome like that...

After the bar, we went and watched the guys play their last softball game of the night.

The next day, Wendy and I went to the new City Creek Center while the guys played softball in the wind. We had to stop at Tiffany's, of course, but other than that- I wasn't super impressed.
So. Many. People.

Mr. Koen man is getting so big and is so smiley! Such a cute little stinker.

That's my man ;) #19

After all the games were over, we went to Leatherby's for dinner. Never disappointed there. Ever.

On the drive home, the canyon was cloud covered and 'misty', it was like there was a huge white tent over the whole thing. Gorgeous.

The worst part of taking trips-- the unpacking and the laundry.

 I had to cram for a Business Law Exam while we were in the hotel the 2nd night we were there. I was super stressed and didn't do as well on my test as I wanted, but it was still worth it. I had a great time visiting with Ms. Wendy and I still got to go shopping, watch some softball, eat some great food, and play with the super cute Kiddo's, Kyler and Koen.

It's about time to go back for another trip. It's been too long already.

It's hard sometimes...

Sometimes it's hard for me to see my friends, family, and others around me with their heads so stuck in the past that they can't see the amazing present they have in front of them or the future they could grow into.

I found this quote today on pinterest and thought it was so fitting, I just had to share.

Be Happy people. Life is hard, but we are tough. Living in reverse will not earn us the happiness that we all deserve.

With love. 

Between Shades of Gray

My college class ended a few weeks ago and since then, I have loved spending time reading books other than business law. On the 12th, Justin and I were both restless and tired of being in the house, so we went to walmart to find me a good book to read.

I found "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys. I finished reading it last night, even though it was not at all what I thought it would be, it was still a very good book.

It is a historic novel about a 15 year old Lithuanian girl named Lina Vilkas and her family. She was deported and imprisoned in Siberia for 12 years during Josef Stalin's 'reign or terror' beginning in 1941.  She tells the stories of the forcedlabor camps, and the brutalities they endured. I learned from this book that "It is esitmated that Josef Stalin killed more than twenty million people."

I had no idea.

It was so indrecibly humbling.

"Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning my brother's was worth a pocket watch."

"Whether love of friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy- love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit."

-Ruta E. Sepetys

If someone wants to borrow it- just holler at me. I'm moving on to "The Lace Reader" by Brunonia Barry. I've heard it's good, so we'll see ;)

Happy Tuesday.

Four Years of Marriage..

I can't believe it has been four years since we walked into that temple to make a commitment that will last into the eternities. I can't believe that around this time 5 years ago I was sitting in the computer lab of the old USU building studying for a Calculus Final when I got a "friend request" on myspace (yes I feel old) from this hot guy that looked vaguely familiar. I can't believe I accepted and started chatting with him and that a little over a month later I met him for the first time. I'll never forget seeing his little red car pull up in front of my work and how my heart started pounding when I saw his "JUST N" license plate. We have been inseparable since. He asked me to be his girlfriend on May 8, 2007, then again on May 11, 2007 (funny story). He asked me to be his fiance on September 20, 2007, and we were sealed for time and all eternity on May 3, 2008- Four years ago today.

It's amazing where life will take you and what we have to go through, but I'm so grateful that I get to go through every day- no matter what it brings- with him.

The Day after he proposed

Wedding Day

Headed to Mexico for our Honeymoon

Bowling on New Years eve 2008



Headed to Grand Junction for our First Anniversary 2009



2010

2011

2012

Love you babe! With all my heart ;)