Straws are a Luxury: June 2012

Oh goodness, the past two weeks have been filled with quite some fun and excitement! Two Monday's ago Joe and I decided that we needed to take a little trip to St. George and spend a little of our Wedding Gift Card money. We both enjoyed our first time at Bed Bath & Beyond and bought a super cute photo album for our wedding pictures. After that we ventured to the Boulevard to see what we could spend our $150 on... and also to see Dad. We ate lunch at the diner and relieved some stress in some amazingly awesome massage chairs. Sadly we aren't really in the market for much of anything right now seeing as we live with Doug and Fiona and we only have one room to fit all our belongings in. We left the Boulevard empty handed this time but will have to go back soon! We got Joe some super cool shoes at Ross and got a couple wedding presents for some of our friends upcoming weddings. We got home in time for golf lessons with Doug and Fiona! They were an early Father's Day present for Doug and they were generous enough to invite us along. We're all pretty rusty but since then we've tried to go hit a bucket of balls around a couple times a week. That night we went to a bonfire and called it good. Unfortunately I woke up at 2am the next morning not feeling well... at all. I was puking about every hour and having some unwanted business out my other end. ewwwww! I felt like I was handling myself like a champ seeing as I haven't really thrown-up since oh, who knows, I was 5? It was not a fun night. I finally woke Joe up because I couldn't take care of myself anymore. He was such sweetheart the whole day. Cleaning up after me and driving to KB at 8am for Sprite. I seriously just laid on the couch all day and watched TV because that was about all I was up for. I started feeling better around 8pm that night and was able to sleep soundly. Sadly, Doug and Fiona both caught the stomach bug too within a couple hours of each other so they had a few more hours before relief came. Joe and Grandpa must have an insane immune system because neither of them caught it. Joe said this was just God's way of letting everyone know how he feels on a daily basis. Thursday was a big day. Our good friends Tanner and Anjalee were getting sealed and the Thrice concert was that night! We were able to drive down, attend their sealing, luncheon, and Menchies with the gang and get back in time to Cedar to pick up Kyle and Weston. The sealing was amazing. That was the first sealing I had attended since mine and Joe's and to be honest our wedding day went by so quick I really don't remember much of what was said in our sealing... except for something about a dream of cheerleaders! The sealer for the Trip's talked for quite some time and talked about the huge importance of marriage and the relationship between Man and Wife. A lot of beautiful and wonderful things were said during their sealing and I am so grateful they were because it brought back the sweet memories of our special day. We drove to Provo where we met up with Jarin and he hooked us up with some free and fresh Krispy Kreme donuts. (nothing compares) The concert was held at The Venue in Salt Lake City and it was packed by the time we got there. We bought our souvenir shirts early and were stoked for the concert to start. The concert was amazing. Thrice is Joe's all time favorite band and this is their last tour for probably forever. It was rather necessary that we were in attendance! I stayed closer to the back for majority of the concert while the boys ventured through the rowdy and rough crowd. I really think they all enjoyed theirselves to the fullest. We woke up early the next morning and drove back to Cedar before noon because Weston had to work. Joe and I napped for a good part of the day and then went to a neighborhood BBQ and had a game night with our friends.

I've been working double shifts on Saturdays for the past 6-7 Saturdays... so I don't normally get to see Joe on those days. He's still working his two jobs so sometimes our work schedules don't quite line up and we don't see each other much on some days.. so we really try to make the most of the days we do! This past week I worked 6 shifts at the restaurant. I came home a few days making next to nothing which was really hard for me. Luckily the Summer Games officially started near the end of this week and things started to pick up! I came home working a double yesterday and I made out pret-ty good! If only every day was like that!

This past week Joe and I mainly worked a lot. We got to hit some golf balls around a bit and we even went to the city pool on Friday! Joe needed a workout since I had gone to the gym while he was at work and so I thought it might be fun to try and swim the lazy river backwards! Unfortunately there were too many kids at the pool so.... I got my sun on while Joe did some lap swimming in the other pool. Oh my goodness it was such a fun day! I told Joe that we've got to spend time at an outside pool at least once a week! I miss the sun and need to get prepared for our future summer vacations ;) The opening ceremonies were on Thursday night and they were outstanding! Nitro Circus was the entertainment for the event and they put on a great show. And of course the ceremony was followed by a spectacular firework show. It was an awesome night with the frisbee team and friends. Today we were lucky enough to speak in Sacrament meeting. I wrote about a five minute talk (if I talked slow enough) and Joe was prepared to speak for a half hour if needed! For those who don't know.... public speaking is probably the most traumatic event that can take place for me... that or having to call someone I don't talk to regularly on the phone. We spoke with another couple and they took up the majority of the time... Joe and I had about ten minutes total. So, I read my talk extra fast so Joe could have time to speak! It worked out splendid for me! Today is Father's Day too. Both my parents and Joe's came to listen to us and it was awesome. I of course got teary once I started talking about Dad and Joe and how I thankful I am for them being worthy priesthood holders. We did a double dinner Sunday starting with my parents and ending back at home with Doug and Fiona. Both delicious meals!

Well until next time! Enjoy the pictures :)

Weston, Kyle, Dantly, Joe and Jarin waiting for Thrice!

Getting pumped!

Pure enjoyment

Thrice

Hittin' a bucket of balls at the driving range.

The gang at the USG Opening Ceremonies!

My manly man

Soaking up some sun at the pool!

It feels like summer is officially in motion for Joe and I and we are really enjoying the time off from school. Joe was able to get a TA job with one of the chemistry professors at the college so he is gone every morning of the week working at the Orthodontist or for the class. He's awesome. The restaurant business in Cedar is struggling right now because SUU is out and the "festival" season has yet to pick up... so it's been a little on the slow side for me at work but should pick up within the next couple of weeks. Last weekend was Memorial Day weekend and Brady, Megan, Lucy, and Jude came to visit Joe and I. Unfortunately I worked double shifts on Saturday, Sunday and lunch on Monday so I wasn't really able to hang out with them which was a bummer. I think they all had a good time relaxing for the weekend... Joe said they even watched 3 movies in one day! (not quite his ideal Saturday activity ;) We also spent last Friday night with my family in St. George with a trip to the temple. It was rather last minute but a super fun trip. We rode down with Mom and Cassi and met up with Dad and Grandpa. Cassidy was able to baptisms while did initiatory's. We ate at Kneaders Bakery afterwards and then Grandpa showed us all his new home is buying-it happens to be a block from the temple. His dedication to work at the temple is amazing. Oh! This is important. As a wedding gift, Grandpa commissioned Del Parsons to paint a portrait of me. I sat for Del a few days ago and he handed me the painting to take home. It will be a prized possession to me for my entire life. What an amazing and beautiful gift.

Joe has been increasing his training schedule for his triathlon too. He even started a blog called "Clydesdale'd" where he records and talks about workouts. He's awesome! We gotta get him some tri-apparel so he can feel comfortable during the race too.

Our first lake trip of the summer happened last week. We went with a fun group of people and had a blast! The water was still pretty chilly for my liking but we had a great time swimming to the island to cliff jump and hang-out. I'm pretty sure I caught some sort of virus from the lake. I have been a congested/nasally mess for the past week. We'll see, maybe it's just horrible allergies!

Since Joe and I still like eachother... a lot ( which we have come to find out that most people are surprised by?) we decided that we want to do date-nights every couple weeks when we can. Joe captained last week's date by taking me to the local restuarant/bar called Toads. I had purchased a Cedar Daily Deal a few days earlier so we could try it out for half the price. For a bar, it was surprisingly classy and nice. We ordered a virgin daiquiri, wings and Deseret to split. It was Kareoke night and we lasted about... oh... two county songs before we couldn't handle it anymore and left for a movie at home. We watched Ghost Protocol, it was pretty awesome.

One of Joe's friends had his bachelor party this week too. Joe was sweet enough to leave after dinner and take me to Krave so I wasn't by myself the whole night. He has such a tender heart.

Today we were able to attend our ward for church after two weeks of me having to miss because of work. A friend from high school just recently got married and moved in the ward so it was super nice having someone to talk to during Relief Society for once. Joe also got a calling today. He is the 1st counselor in the Sunday School Presidency. It was a new experience for the 2nd counselor in the bishopric to meet with both of us to give Joe his calling! We were able to eat lunch with my family today. Mom had steak and salad for us. Dad got sick on Saturday and is still recovering from some food poisoning. Joe and I disovered I get my low tolerance for illness from my dad... He's sort-of a weenie ;) We came home to another delicious meal because Fiona thought today was Father's Day. It worked out to everyone's benefit with a delicious tri-fold for dessert. To finish this post off, today I gave my first haircut... and Joe was my tester! Fiona helped me

but I think it turned out decent... we'll see what he thinks tomorrow.