Spring Break -- Moab

This spring break, Michael and I accompanied one of his mission buddies & his wife down to Moab for some camping/hiking/rafting fun! Holy cow! I have never been so sore in my entire life, but I am happy we were able to see these beauties! We drove out late Friday night and stayed the night at Jake's coworker's house. It was so nice of her to let us stay, but it would have been death to have to set up tents that late! Anyway, the next morning, we woke up and went to "The Love Muffin" for breakfast!

Then we went to the Fiery Furnace! Dum, Dum, Dum..... Just kidding. Basically there isn't a trail through these rocks. You have to make your own trail and just pray you don't get lost! Also, I caught this perfect picture of Jane & Jake! Aren't they just the cutest! 

We are less cute but here you go! 

Then we went on the longest hike EVER! Basically on the trail, we passed 8 arches and then ran the rest of the trail. Okay not really, but Jake & Jane definitely like hiking a lot faster than Michael & myself! It was so much fun though!

Basically I was beyond exhausted at the end of that hike! Michael and I were pretty out of shape so the next morning we were pretty sore! 

The next day we drove back to Arches to see Delicate Arch, the Windows, and Balancing Rock! Day 2 was a lot less hiking and more sight seeing. It was so fun, but poor Michael's knee really started hurting him! Poor kid really had to go through a lot of pain, but he handled it like a champ!

See... We made an arch! Get it? 

 We got the strangest looks while out hiking around... I wonder why... ;)

 We obviously had to take a yodeling shot! I'm Jimmy Fallon see? 

And He is Brad Pitt! 

This Arch is called Navajo Arch. It is technically found in Canyonlands, and it was our favorite that we saw! Basically it was absolutely breathtaking! 

I really wanted to peak over the edge, but Michael was pretty nervous about me falling, so I held onto him and he held the rocks! Genius!

Isn't he just the cutest thing you ever did see!? Seriously, I am the luckiest girl out there! 

... And this was the door the the bathroom our last campsite... 

Rough, but it made for a good laugh! 

We got up extra early on Monday and hiked back to Navajo Arch thinking we would be able to get a good view of the sunrise, but we weren't the only ones who had that idea... We couldn't even see the sunrise through the arch! 

 This was the best shot of the sunrise I was able to get!

X O X

Hockey!

Last Saturday, Michael, Brad, Dan, and Ed went to a Hockey game! This was a gift from Christmas for all of them to get to go to the game together! Although I don't know much of how it went, here is the picture! I didn't even ask Michael to get one! He is being so amazingly helpful! 

They all look so much alike! Look at those eyes! They are all the exact same!

Rose

Sometimes a single rose means just as much, if not more, than a dozen. Both Michael and I have been developing colds lately. Not just basic ones though, it's the kind that is head pounding, nose stuffing, and throat aching. Poor Michael still gets up every morning though and heads off to school, so I do the same with working. Everyday I wake up and go pick up Yowan. Now as easy as this sounds, this kid is not anything close to easy. He fights, yells, whines, and screams just because you point at a letter and ask him what the letter is. Now, he is 5 years old and should be past that. Normally I can deal with this, but when my head weights 100 pounds, it makes life even more difficult. 

Enough complaining... My dear Michael knows how difficult this has been on me and when I returned home yesterday after dropping off YoYo, I walk in the door to see this...

A single rose. So simple. So perfect. 

Needless to say he lifted my spirits and changed my attitude. 

Then, he swept me off my feet to our favorite restaurant IHop! We pigged out, then went to Deseret Industries for date night. Basically it was a perfect evening. I definitely am one lucky girl!

Also, we hung my window! YAY! I am so obsessed with it! This isn't the best picture of it, but you get the general idea! 

Antelope Island

Last weekend, Michael and I made a pretty large purchase. We decided that if I really wanted to be a photographer, I need to start practicing. That being said, we found someone online who was selling their camera and jumped on the opportunity! 

Wanting to take the camera out for a test run, we headed out to Antelope Island! If you haven't visited before, it is definitely worth the trip! Maybe these pictures will convince you to go!

Sorry there is kind of a lot but it was seriously gorgeous!  

Michael has mad hops!

This rock was just begging for an Ariel picture!

And how often do you get to climb on a wrecking ball!? 

Although we have never seen the music video and never plan on seeing that  

D I S G U S T I N G   F I L T H  we had to take advantage of the opportunity!

I thought these pictures were gorgeous and I was pretty excited they turned out so well! Maybe

I actually do stand a chance at becoming a photographer! 

I've certainly got a long way to go, but I am going to work hard! 

X O X

Show Shoeing

 Michael and I haven't had a chance to get out snow shoeing this season yet, so when we realized we had a complete day with nothing to do, we reserved it for snow shoeing! We had never gone in Ogden up until now, so we did some research the night before and found a place to go, then set out Monday morning. We were running out the door. Make up from the night before and all!

Poor Michael. I make him take so many pictures, 

but some of them turn out pretty rad! He's got mad hops!

My jumping picture didn't turn out nearly as cool... Apparently I stick my tongue out when I try to concentrate, so this is the next best thing. Snow Shoeing in action!

The snow was so deep! This is me underneath of a picnic table!

It took quite a time for me to get underneath of it but I'll do anything for a cool picture! 

How beautiful is this world we live in!? Seriously! Look at this! 

This was our path! I couldn't get enough of it!

This was where we sat down and had our own little picnic! Super romantic! 

And a "selfie" because in the couple of hours we were up there, my freckles doubled! 

X O X

Valentines Day 2014

Perfection. That is the only word I can think of to describe our Valentines Day experience. I have never experienced a more amazing day. (Aside from our wedding day  O B V I O U S L Y ! ) It started out like any normal day. Wake up, change, go potty, take Michael to work. You know, the usual. While walking out the door, Michael stops me and claims he "forgot his wallet." So he ran back up stairs to get it. Then, off to school we went. When I got home, I walked in the door to see this...  

Story Time: A week earlier, Michael and I had decided to walk 25th street for like the 20th time, and explore the antique shops yet again. While my favorite store, I came across this window! I absolutely fell in love with it and was so heart broken to have to pass it up. Shock. Shock is what I felt when I saw this beautiful window sitting on our couch. He really surprised me with this one. 

T H E N !  As if that wasn't enough, I go into the Bathroom and see this beautiful message:

Again, I was completely blown away by his thoughtful message! AND as if that wasn't enough, I went to get onto the computer to write on my other blog when the first thing that popped up was this:

Michael had "forgotten" his wallet just so he could surprise me with all of these sweet messages! I was floating on a cloud all day while he was at school! I thought this was the most thoughtful thing a man could have ever done. 

When Michael did finally come home, we had decided to give presents. I was absolutely bursting to give him his present! I had been collecting it for months, and if any of you know me, I am not any good at keeping a surprise. Especially from Michael so I was so relieved and excited to finally be able to give him his CDs. In high school, all of his CDs were stolen out of his car, and he has always wanted to be able to rebuild his collection. So... I collected half of it. 

It doesn't look like a lot, but the bands that I got multiple CDs of were stacked up. I got him a total of 23 CDs! He was so happy!

Then it was my turn. I had no idea what to expect because he had already done so many kind things for me that day! He had me close my eyes and wait for him to bring out my gift. He brought out a  S E W I N G   M A C H I N E ! That was the last thing I expected! I was so happy I literally started crying. I know that happens all the time, but I couldn't help it! It meant so much to me! I immediately grabbed some fabric and went to work figuring it out! 

My favorite part of this present is the note he wrote on it to stay forever. Michael has always has such an amazing way of expressing himself and that is one of the things I fell in love with first. I told him even if this sewing machine breaks, I am keeping it forever. I have never felt more spoiled. 

Then it was off to Olive Garden for dinner. Look at that handsome man! 

After dinner we retired to our home for some Wii and a little Indiana Jones. A perfect way to spend a day celebrating our unconditional and eternal love. This man makes me feel like something I've never felt before. Being married to Michael has helped me learn more things about myself that I probably should have learned years ago. He makes my entire world better. I will always be forever grateful for that night at Betos 2 years ago. I will never forget the 7 days it took for me to know I wanted to be his forever. I love you Michael Linley.

X O X

Mikey's favorite!

A couple of months ago, I found a recipe for a dessert called Gorilla Bread, and Michael cannot get enough of! So... I figured I would put it online just in case a fire were to occur or something and I couldn't access this recipe! It has been so fun perfecting this recipe to our own favorite taste!

I N G R E D I E N T S

• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 c (1 stick) butter
• 1 c packed brown sugar
• 2 12 - ounce cans refrigerated biscuits (10 count)
• Chocolate Chips

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon. In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over low heat, stirring well; set aside.  M A K E   S U R E   N O T   T O   B U R N   I T !
2. Press the biscuits out with your fingers and sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon sugar. Place some chocolate chips in the center of each biscuit, wrapping and sealing the dough around the chocolate chips.
3. Place half of the prepared biscuits in the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, pour half of the melted butter mixture over the biscuits. Layer the remaining biscuits on top, and sprinkle with the remaining brown sugar mixture.
4. Bake for 30 min. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Place a plate on top and invert.

We ended up buying some cheap dough, and it was SUPER sticky and frozen, they took a bit of extra softening... So naturally I pretended to be  I R O N   M A N !  I saved the world. Don't you fret.

On the left is before we cooked it and the right is after cooked. Normally it doesn't look as red, but for some reason the picture came out super red! 

 X O X

Drill.

This weekend was Michael's weekend to be with the Marine Corps. Normally I would go to Orem and spend time with my family, but this time, due to finances we opted that I would stay in Ogden. Lonely as this may be... I have accomplished so much this weekend! Our home is very small, and although it was some what organized... If it isn't perfect, it drives me  C R A Z Y !  I am not a psycho, I just enjoy a neat home! So here is my weekend in pictures!

Our closet is one part of our home that  A L W A Y S  manages to get messy. It has been one of my biggest frustrations, so I refigured how our clothes fit into the closet! hopefully Michael will be able to find his clothes!  

 We also don't have a medicine cabinet in our bathroom, just open shelving. It is nice to have the extra storage, but keeping our things looking nice and not cluttered is super difficult! So, I went to Joann Fabric and picked up these boxes for $3.99 and look how clean it looks! I am so happy about it! 

 This is our little "office" station. It is small and gets cluttered super quickly. So, we put these baskets in there and it hides the mess really well! 

I just needed to give a reorganizing to the space above the washer & Dryer. Regardless, it is looking a lot better than before! 

Frank was a huge help this weekend... ;) 

Not really but what is a blog post if it doesn't include this pup! 

Michael sent me this picture this weekend. They one of a kind huh? This is how I make it through these times without Michael. Pictures. Thank goodness for pictures!

X O X