Beautiful Manti-

This is for the fam also... the beautiful Manti Temple. We live about 5 min down the road. You can see the temple from where we live, lit up at night. It's sooo pretty.

No, I havent fallen off the earth...but thanks for asking!

I know, I know...my mom was about to kill me too if I didn't get this thing updated! Its been about a month since the last update. Since then, we've moved from DC back to Ephraim, getting our little home set up and getting back in a school routine and catching up since we missed the first week. All is well now though. I took a video for the fam so they know where/how were living. I'm a mess in these videos, don't look at me too closely. Hope you enjoy mi familia!

Okay...well my video won't upload. So! I took some pictures. Doesn't do much justice as far as seeing the layout but at least you can see what we've done with the place. :)

Our dining room, as soon as you walk through the front door, to the right.


Laundry Closet
Spare Bedroom/Study

Extra Storage




Now, time for a little r&r...We've had so much fun since being back. The weather is cooler, the trees are changing colors, its a much slower pace here and we have alot more time to spend together. We've been camping, hunting (well Josh has, I just watch), we go on a walk every night...its so nice. Ill post some pictures once the trees really start changing. Can't wait for fall, its my favorite season!

Past few weeks...

It's been a few weeks since I've blogged...honestly, I shouldn't be blogging right now anyway- we have a whole apartment to pack up and be ready to start our haul back to Utah this weekend.

Since the last blog, both Josh and I had our birthdays! His is Aug 11th and mine is the 16th. My dad's birthday is also the 16th. Its a little bittersweet having always shared a birthday and a cake with dad but now that we're away from Texas, I can share it with my husband. So it's still fun! We didn't do too much though because of Josh's schedule but I made him a stack of birthday french toast complete with powdered sugar and a candle and bought him a pair of shoes that he LOVES and 2 shirts to start his back to school wardrobe. That night we went to dinner and a movie but afterwards we were still too full and it was way late so unfortunatly, he didnt get his birthday cake until the next day. He didnt complain.

For my birthday, it was a Sunday so I got Josh to myself for the day. We ran some errands (which I dont mind, as long as we're together) and ate at my favorite burger place, Five Guys. It was delicious and probably the last time we'll eat it here in DC. Sad. We came home and he made the cutest white round cake covered in colorful sprinkles and sang me happy birthday. It was cute and I love him to death!

Yesterday, I realized most of the wives have left already and I didnt feel like sitting at home so I begged Josh to let me go out with him and sell for the day. I think he thought I was going to complain and want to give up a few hours into the day but I think I could have stuck out even longer than he did. It was fun to watch him do what he does everyday and for his customers to think we're co-workers instead of actually being husband and wife. haha, (little did they know...)

Today, the clocks tickin', getting closer to Saturday! I cant be anymore excited to leave DC. It was fun when we had sights to go see and things to do but after youve done all those things- you realize that youre just in a big city, full of rude people whose only language is their car horns. Its pathetic. Anyway, this was just a quick update. Next time I write, we'll be in Utah!

WOO-HOO!

XOXO-

The Platinum Wives Club

Well, this summer has come and gone. We have about 2 weeks left here before we make our trek back to Utah. I'd have to say that this has been a fun summer. I've learned alot, laughed alot, and gotten lost alot but hey, you live and learn as I'd say.

Im really thankful for the other wives here. They are such sweethearts and I have developed such a great bond with all of them. It will be tough to get used to not seeing them everyday but hopefully we can stay in touch often and will be back together again next summer. I hope all of you have a great next couple months before we all are together again for the cruise in February!!! I can't wait...and I know you can't either as we talk about it QUITE OFTEN. haha. I love you girls...

We missed a few of the other girls in this picture...Mariah, Kellie, Laurie, Sam and Sarah.

XOXO!

Chesapeake Bay: Take 2

Well last Sunday we did a little more research on the internet hoping to find a MUCH better beach to lay on as opposed to Kent Island. Alas, SANDY POINT BEACH. Clean sand, no washed up "monsters", and a crabbing area- which was Josh's reason for going.

A few other couples wanted to come so we decided to make a day out it. We headed to a seafood restaurant called Cantler's in Annapolis which was right on the bay. They had extemely fresh crab seeing as how they could basically walk their catch up to the crab boilers themselves. I wasn't too hungry so I got a kids crab cake- it was pretty good but Josh's was...oh my- A MOUND of mussels, oysters and 3 whole crab and an ear of corn. Although, I was quite suprised how much/or little meat you can get from one crab. The guys pretty much hammered the crab to crumbs trying to find all the meat. My one crab cake must have come from 50 crabs!

Here's a group shot of everyone that went that day.

After lunch, we headed to the beach. We found a bait store and Josh bought a crab net and some chicken necks...TASTY! (yuck.) My camera died at this point so all these pictures, I bummed from Sam and Tash. Thanks girls! haha.

Not sure where Josh was in this picture...probably playing with the crab he caught. (Yes, he did catch one. He can now say his summer is complete.)

Speaking of catching crab...look what else we caught. A ball of goo! A jellyfish. None of us girls swam after this.

We, well Zach, caught something else too but I dont think anyone will believe me. Good thing I have a picture for proof! What do you get with boys, seagulls, a slipknot and Doritos?

A SEAGULL KITE! He literally caught a seagull by the ankle. Wait, do birds even have ankles?! Watching this was probably the most entertaining part of our day. Oh wait...

Now, the day is complete. It was such a fun day but we were exhausted and the sun was going down. Time to head home...

Just thoughts...

I don't know why but somedays, I get very contemplative. These past few days, I've had alot of time to reflect on my life, people who've influenced me, trials, blessings and family. I recently had a dream and I have them pretty often of my grandparents who've passed away some years ago. I like to think they're just checking in on me to see how Im doing or to at least let me see their faces. When they died- I always worried I would forget alot of the little things that I loved about them, like my grandpa's chuckle when he laughed or my grandma's sense of humor.

My grandmother was paralyzed on her left side ever since I was a baby so I never saw her walk on her own or heard her speak full and clear sentences. She was a beautician for years before her stroke so she/and I loved to do her make-up and paint her nails. They were my biggest example of christlike love, especially my grandpa who bent over backwards to make her his first priority above himself to see that she had what she needed and was fully taken care of. After he died, though I was young, I remember my heart broke for her because I couldn't comprehend the void that left her.

Now that Im married I can imagine just an ounce of how that must have felt. I don't need to rely on Josh for every need (YET!) but with him, I know what it's like to have a husband that is there for you at any given moment knowing that if you ever needed anything that he would gladly do so. And I for him. My grandparents remind me that physically we may not be together forever but spiritually we will be, same for my family. I hate being so far away from them- I haven't seen them since April and won't be able to see them until Christmas. It breaks my heart some days knowing I won't get my hugs or hear their laughs but I know we're still family and though we may be far from eachother for awhile, that I still love them and would do anything for any one of them. Its such a blessing to have eternal relationships, whether its family, spouses or friends and for the impact they have on you as a human being and the world around you. Just think about that and see if you would be the person you are today without having that example in your life...

I hope that I can someday be the example that my grandparents were to me. xoxo

and the WINNER is...

THANK YOU Tash!!! I feel a sense of completion now and can move on to the next phase in my life now that I have my friends list posted. Thanks for your VERY CLEAR instructions because I obviously couldn't have figured it out. And yes, my feeling of being an idiot is now setting in. I think it's time for a coke... thanks doll. LOVE YA!