Pass, Blitz, Tackle, Touch Down - GO COUGS???!

This football season Jer and I had the opportunity to attend quite a few BYU games with the Marsh's. However, as a Utah alum, I was strictly instructed to wear cougar blue and cheer my heart out. Though initially wary, I kept an open mind and, believe it or not, the games were incredibly fun (even for a U fan).

Though feeling somewhat capricious and unloyal, I still entirely enjoyed every time a BYU player blind-sided an opponent. I still got real worked up over disappointing, outrageous, game-changing calls by the officials. And it didn't matter that I was watching the cougs, my two favorite things about football - sacking the other team's quarterback and watching players dive over opponents head-first into the end zone - did in no way lose their luster.

Now this year, during what is likely an entirely over-hyped, but nonetheless exhilarating rivalry face off, Jer's cougs took home the victory over my utes, much to my dismay. Jer even bailed on me to actually go to the game (who wouldn't though right?), but what was worse was his gallivanting around like a proud peacock upon arriving home - which I am pretty sure put to shame my gloating from the prior year ute win. It was, however, a very close game, so I am grateful for that small consideration in my favor.

And who can forget the crowning event of the season with Max Hall's words that will long outlive his football legacy: "I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, I hate their fans, I hate everything. I think the whole university, their fans and their organization is classless". Unlike the many outraged Utah fans around the state, the comment made me do nothing more than laugh. It is, however, always fascinating to see the ridiculous reactions that can be provoked by such an inconsequential comment.


Now if I'm being entirely honest, I can probably name more BYU players than Utah players, but I still maintain that that is not the point, though Jeremy will fervently fight me on that. Jer may be the most avid BYU fan I have ever known, so accordingly I can be the "supportive" wife. I've even conceded to rooting for BYU... just as long as they're not playing the Utes (which is more than generous if you ask me).

Despite enjoying games, even cheering for the cougs, and Jer's relentless attempts to sway my loyalties, I remain the classless Ute fan. Here's to many years of marital discord during rivalry games to come.

Trick or Treat

Halloween at the Browns was lovely - good food, good friends. The soups were delicious and the pumpkin bread bowls were adorable. It was a real spooky night with guests like Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Nellie Lovett, two sets of H1N1, and two pairs of polygamists. Any night with water-tight handshakes is always a good one.

 

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.

There is nothing quite like a fall day. The cool crisp air, pumpkins piled high, and playing in the leaves. It always feels like the natural time to slow down - to listen to the crunching, crinkling autumn leaves, to take in the harvest moon, to breathe deep the scent of rich spices wafting through the air. A simple smile, a good book, and the waning sunlight warms the ever chillier days. Autumn - the hush before winter.

Birthday Fun!

I love that Jeremy's birthday is September 2nd and mine is the 4th. It's a celebration week. His birthday was on a Tuesday, which happens to be one of the longest days of the week for him. His first class starts at 7:30am, work at 12:30, back to class at 5:30pm and usually doesn't get home until 7:30 pm. It's a very full day, to say the least.

I still tried to make it special, as to be expected. We had a fun little dinner with delicious chili-lime chicken kabobs & cheese fondue {YUM!}. And Ally and I slaved away all day making an adorable birthday cake and the most scrumptious cupcakes (to become addicted, please see my recipe blog: www.simplysweetrecipes.blogspot.com).

Then for my birthday we went to Tepanyaki, mini-golfing at Cherry Hill of all places (Jer beat me by 6 points on my birthday), and Coldstone (I recommend getting the strawberry blonde). We did a joint birthday gift this year and got a new {camera} that we are so excited about! We ordered it online through Costco so we could get a free printer with it - but I can hardly wait for it to get here.

One year older. One year wiser.

Vegas Baby!

So randomly Karen, Ally and I headed down to Vegas - and it was so much fun. There are some definite perks about being temporarily unemployed. We stayed on the strip at the Monte Carlo for two nights and soaked up the sun for hours on end, enjoying the hotel's lazy river and sipping Miami Vices. We mostly worked on our tan and of course shopped until we dropped.

Then we stayed a night at the Holiday Inn in St. George where they upgraded us to this funky HUGE room that I thought was a little creepy, but it was free, so who cares? Then we did more shopping (can you believe it?) and saw Aida at the Tuacahn theater. The setting there is AMAZING with the enormously beautiful red rocks and the backdrop of twinkling stars in the night sky. I absolutely loved the musical - it was opening night and the actors put on a great performance.

There were lot's of laughs and girl time. These two are so much fun! What a great family to be a part of.

Goodbye Spokane!

Well, to say the least, we couldn't be more excited that we're heading home to Utah! Seriously, the anticipation of finding out was almost unbearable. Summer just crawled by as we waited and waited to hear back from the University of Utah - not to mention the fact that I was stuck in Spokane for my job and of course Jeremy had to be in Utah for his internship. Plus always getting asked "so, have you heard yet?" conveniently reminded us all the time that we hadn't. We were both really nervous that we were going to have to tell everyone that we didn't get in. A month went by after he submitted his application and they told him he would hear back after only 2 weeks. We started to get even more nervous because we thought if it was going to be a "yes" he would have heard by now. Then on a Friday, our good friends, Chris and Tara, were accepted to transfer to Arizona. We couldn't have been happier for them, but Jeremy decided he couldn't wait any longer, so he called the U first thing Monday morning...

I will never forget, as I was driving home for lunch on that beautifully sunny afternoon and my phone rings and of course it's Jer and the first words out of his mouth are "guess what?". I started basically freaking out. I was so excited I accidentally hung up on him! I don't think either one of us could stop smiling all day (I couldn't even wipe the smile off my face as I gleefully told my boss "I quit!"). I guess it was a little unfortunate that we couldn't have found out sooner so I wouldn't have been by myself in Spokane, but I told him I would have done it a million times over if it meant he would get into the U.

Then the whirlwind of moving began! But again, due to my excitement, I packed our entire apartment up by Thursday. Then Jer flew in Friday - even though it took him ten hours to get here when his first flight was cancelled because there was a drizzle here in Spokane - it was pretty ridiculous. Not to mention that he had a horrible flight the night before on his way from Phoenix to Salt Lake after sweating all day under the hot sun while looking at helicopter crash remains. Poor guy. But he made it! Then, we loaded up the Uhaul Saturday morning - which happened to be our 1 year anniversary - what a great way to celebrate! We planned to go to dinner and whatnot in Spokane that evening, but after packing up, I looked around and thought "why not just go now?". And so we did. We drove straight to Salt Lake - a 14 hr. drive. Probably not the safest idea since I could not stay awake despite my best efforts and Jeremy could barely keep his eyes open. But somehow we arrived safe and sound - it's probably a good thing we said a little prayer before we left! :)

And just like that, our time in Spokane is over. Really, I can't believe we've been here a whole year. The time went by soooo fast. We made many dear friends and have some great memories like...

Pig out in the Park...

Playing in the SNOW (I've never seen it snow like that - and I'm from Utah!)...

Our new appreciation for Red Robin...

Lake Coeur d'Alene...

Bloomsday (some funny result facts)...

The beautiful river & falls...

And our absolutely wonderful ward and great friends...

And of course the night when our neighbors murdered someone and the {SWAT} team was there the next morning to blast over the loudest loud speaker I have ever heard "tenenants of 2057 come out with your hands up!". Okay, maybe not a high point, but definitely one funny, crazy, unforgettable memory that we like to laugh about all the time.

I am so proud of my husband and his diligence. He studied more than most can imagine, sometimes putting in 12, 13, 14+ hours a day! He's incredible. He worked tirelessly this school year and it definitely paid off. I am so grateful for all of his hard work and that he gets to go to the U. YAY!

Our Favorite Vacation - Lake Powell

We love the sun, boating, and to be in Powell more than any place else. Pretty sure it's what gets us through the long, bitter-cold months and highlights ever summer gone by. And going with the entire Stuart gang is always a blast. It's non-stop fun from sun up to sun down, leaving us entirely un-rested. I think I always feel like I need a vacation when the week's over. It's pretty much like a marathon all day, every day. Ski, wake board, tube, wake surf, then repeat.

One of the best parts was watching all the little ones ski (I wish I had pics because they were all adorable and brave). Lake Powell is perfect with its warm, inviting water, and the serene setting of stunning blue skies and immense red-rocks. A perfect vacation, that came and went in the blink of an eye. And we already can't wait for next year.

baby Beckham

We are so excited for this little guy to be here! And could he be any cuter? He had a lot to live up to since his big brother is pretty adorable, but he is darling! It was so fun and exciting waiting with Karen & Ally for him to arrive. They laughed because I was excited that the second we pulled into Wal-Mart clear over in Spokane Valley, Chris called and said we better come right back because Beckham would be there any second - I love a little drama. Plus, isn't that how it's suppose to be? Having a baby is always chaotic in the movies, right? Haha. I'm sure they think I'm a little crazy.

This is the outfit we gave him - Jer picked it out and I totally love it!

our little Vancouver getaway

So a few weeks before finals, Jeremy came up with a rather brilliant idea that we should take a little trip before he has to leave to Salt Lake for his internship with the notorious Dick Burbidge. We decided that it needed to be within driving distance and since we had already been to Seattle, he came up with Vancouver. It was an absolutely wonderful weekend. We had so much fun seeing all the sites - though neither of us considered ourselves the sight-seeing types.

On the way we jumped out and took a few pictures at a "REST STOP" (neither of us had ever stopped at one before, so we found that funny). It was overlooking what I still claim to be a lake, though Jeremy asserted (and the signs confimed) it was actually a river. Gorgeous views - made me excited for Lake Powell this summer.

The drive was lengthy - 7 hours, plus the time it took to cross the border into Canada (fairly quick on the way in, not so quick on the way out). However, it went really fast. It had felt like forever since we had been able to spend any real time together, so it was nice to have the long drive. During which I proudly stayed awake for the ENTIRE time. Which is quite a feat.

We arrived at our hotel and were a little bummed that the hotel charged it's guests $10 a day to park. But we quickly moved on. We decided to head downtown and check things out. They had every important shopping establishment a girl could ever want. Luckily, not much caught my eye (which is slightly unusual, but I think the 'not spending ANY money', 'poor law student' mentality has really set in since we moved to Spokane). Then we headed off the beaten path a bit to a greek restraunt called Stephos. We had heard about this little hole in the wall from a friend and were told that it's a local treasure. There was a line down the street, but worth the wait - the atmosphere was wonderfully authentic and the food was impressive - flavorful, hefty portions, and very reasonably priced.

We got a carmel apple on our long walk back to the car and called it a night. On Saturday we woke up bright and early to catch the ferry over to Victoria (I had never been on one before - lot's of firsts). When we arrived we caught a bus to the Buschart Gardens, which was quite possibly the best part of our trip. The gardens are absolutely stunning. It's incredible how perfectly manicured the entire place is - and never a single landscaper in sight (which naturally adds to the experience). Our favorite part was the Sunken Gardens.

It was also here that a gentleman offered to take our picture and just after Jeremy handed over his camera the man immediately dropped it on the ground. Of course it had to fall right on the lense. Totally broken. Luckily, I still had my camera (coincidentally we both brought our own). We ended up spending nearly 3 hours at the gardens. They are enormous and have dramatically different styles to see. Like the Japanese Gardens - those were also beautiful.

Next, we headed downtown and hung out by the Parliment building and walked around the pier to observe all the street performers and people with their quirky knick-knacks for sale.

We caught our bus back to the ferry and headed back to Vancouver. It was a long day. In fact, everyday we were there we walked 10 miles at a minimum. It was kind of an exhausting vacation, but that seems to always be the case.

Sunday, we got up early again and walked over to the Gainville Market - which is a must see. I absolutely love, love, love public markets. All the fresh produce and delicious pastries. I love the hustle and bustle. So much culture.

Later, we went to this enormous park right on the water in downtown. It's amazing that they dedicate so much prime real estate to a park. First, we headed to the Aquarium where we were able to watch a rather impressive dolphin show. It's amazing how high they could jump.

Then we walked around the park, along the water, and stopped to watch a game of cricket.

The last day we needed to leave early for our long drive home, so we made a quick stop at the beach that morning and made a quick stop at the market to get a bite to eat. And to finish off our trip, I (of course) got crapped on by a bird while eating my lunch. I swear he must have been aiming right for me. It was pretty funny, I have to admit.

All in all, a much needed getaway.

baby shower for Tiffany

We are so looking forward to having another nephew here soon and we're wondering if he'll be as rambunctious and cute as Kaden. Doing a shower for Tiffany was a lot of fun and I think all went well. It's nice that we've been able to make some new friends up here in Spokane. They all brought wonderful gifts and we had a fun time eating all the great goodies and playing some fun baby games like "Baby Animals" and "Baby Babble" word scramble.

Tara taught me how to make these AMAZING oreo truffles. They are so delicious! Simple recipe too. They're addicting.

my first 12k... Bloomsday 2009

Here I am just after crossing the finish line. I was a bit bummed that of course Jeremy didn't have the time to run it with me, but I was super pumped and glad I did it. Not too bad on the time either, all things considered - it nearly killed me because I was so sick. I felt like I was going to die afterward because I thought I had the Swine Flu, but it turned out to only be Bronchitis. Crazy! But it was still a lot of fun and totally worth it. And after I recover from my stress fracture and recently broken toes, maybe I'll take on a half-marathon next! For now, I'll have to stick to the bike and pilates.

Easter 2009

Yes, the Easter Bunny did in fact make a brief appearance at our humble abode. I know it's a little silly of me, but I really, really love holidays (and birthdays, or anything of the sort). And I love our little apartment - it's fun to be just us. But we definitely miss our friends and family. HAPPY EASTER!

baby names

Ok... So we are sooooooooo far away from even thinking of having a baby, but I came across this super cute baby name blog called What a lovely name and Jeremy and I have had a fun time going through and finding our favorites. I'm sure that by the time we actually have a baby, our favorites will probably change, but we had a good laugh at all the crazy names there are out there.

Valentine's Day

Our first MARRIED Valentine's Day together. I had just been away in Dallas for a sales conference, so timing was perfect and we had a great night together. We kept it simple and went to dinner at Applebees - the fajitas are delicious. Then we spent a quiet night in watching chick flicks. Nothing better.

Super Bowl Sunday

Last week was Super Bowl Sunday and this was my silly little excuse of a Super Bowl party for two! For some strange reason I was craving hot dogs, which never happens, but they were quite delicious. It really was such a fun day, lounging around together and watching a great game (and great commercials, of course). One of the better Sundays for no particular reason. I love those days. It was just nice to relax and not do anything at all.

enough of winter...

The days are short,

The sun a spark

Hung thin between

The dark and dark.

-John Updike-

My insatiable silent request for some sunlight amongst the dreary, grim-skied January had remained unrequited…until yesterday morning. The anticipation almost unbearable as we made our way to school and work. As my usual, I began to skeptically survey the skies above. Typically, I am quickly demoralized by the thick, inescapable fog that entrenches the South Hill. However, I readily recognized that there appeared the possibility that the sun might (just might) come out. And so it did. For one fleeting day, I gazed longingly out my window from my overpiled desk and enjoyed the vast, untainted sunlight that lit up the valley and uplifted my mood. Gone again today, but there is still hope for tomorrow.

a little about us…

Jeremy and I were married on 08.08.08 and for one reason or another, we have yet to see why they always say that the first year of marriage is the hardest. We really have loved ever minute we have shared, venturing into the unfamiliar and starting our happily ever after. He is currently attending his first year of law school at Gonzaga University, which has brought us to our first adventure in wonderful Spokane, Washington. Right now I work 8-5 Monday through Friday and despite his endless hours of studying and my need to not think after a long day’s work, we manage to squeeze in a little time together everyday and even a little extra on the weekends.

We live a simple life, but I relish every moment. Not a day goes by that I am not exceedingly grateful for the life and love that we share, right down to the littlest of moments. Like Saturday morning waffles drenched in sweet syrup. Waking up in the middle of the night and cuddling up as close as I can. Lounging around together in comfy sweats and watching movies that make us laugh, make us think, make me cry. The late night laughter and reflections on all that we have shared and all that we have to look forward to. I am reminded every day how lucky I am. Our marriage, green and promising, has brought me more joy and clarity about what is most important in this world than I ever thought possible.