Updated...finally!

I have been such a slacker in the blogging world as of late. Things with school and keeping up with Ashton has kept me busy. But I finally found some time to kill...or be distracted from other, more pressing items of business, and update this thing.

We have been having such a great time traveling and being outside (Utah has been so lovely lately) that I just haven't had time. So many things to blog about, but no time to blog about them because we've been so busy doing them!

So, there are a few posts below which briefly describe our Thanksgiving and Christmas, a few outdoor adventures, and Ashton's birthday. I hope it's not too boring!

Happy Birthday Buzz

Just last week was Ashton's birthday! The big 2-7! Yikes! One year closer to 30. I keep having to remind him of that. He's much older than I am despite my graduating college first and being in graduate school first.

Ashton you are a gem in my life. I am so grateful for your hard work and strong example of living the gospel of Jesus Christ valiantly. You have accomplished more in your short 27 years of life than some people do in a lifetime. I am proud of you schnook!

Snow Sports

After enjoying the beautiful warm weather of central America, we came back to the ice block of Provo and decided that we should make the best of the cold weather as well. Plus, we need to prepare for our overnight cross country ski adventure that is upcoming. A little snowshoeing and cross country skiing has helped us enjoy this time of year!

And I think snowshoeing has become a new favorite of ours!

From Collages

Guatemala and Belize

After our trip to Disneyworld, we caught a flight down to Guatemala City. It was so beautiful there. I can see why some suspect it as the land of bountiful. We went to the temple right when we got there and stayed a night at the temple accommodations.

The next morning we flew north to Flores where we stayed for the next few days. We spend New Year's Eve there and it was insane. I am surprised buildings did not burn down from all the fireworks people set off. Flores is a little island in the middle of a lake and so it was beautiful to see all the lights reflect on the water.

New Years Day we woke up before dawn and headed to Tikal, an ancient Mayan city. The temples and buildings were amazing. There were spider monkeys all over the place too! A nice addition to the beautiful green scenery.

We also spent a few days across the border in Belize. We stayed in the jungle areas and rented a canoe and paddled up the river one afternoon. We saw lots of iguanas and some of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen in my life.

We also had the great opportunity of going to church there. The people all speak English, that is the official language there, but everyone speaks Creole and where we were nearly everyone spoke Spanish. Needless to say, church was quite interesting. But we felt the language of the spirit strongly while we were there. The saints there are pure and it opened our eyes to realize that the Church is true all over the world and that the people in Belize care about the same things as the people in America--they care about keeping their families with them forever. It is a beautiful gospel indeed.

We spent one more day in Guatemala City with some friends of ours and had a great Family Home Evening night where we shared our testimonies of the gospel. We were lucky enough to meet so many people who knew English so we could communicate so well.

All in all, it was a great trip and we feel lucky to have gone and see some more of the beautiful world that we live in and meet some of the beautiful people God has created.

Disneyworld

Ashton and I had a wonderful Christmas break. We went to Las Vegas for a day or so and then headed down to Arizona to be with my family. It was so warm and perfect to run in. We spent lots of good time with family and friends. The Smiths invited us to spend some time with them on Christmas day volunteering at the Salvation Army dinner. Ashton had a grand time handing less fortunate children toys for Christmas.

Not long after Christmas, we flew to Florida and spent a day with our friends in Disneyworld. Thanks Andy for the tickets and fun time!

Thanksgiving

Let's back up all the way to Thanksgiving. Ashton and I had a great thanksgiving down in Richfield with Ashton's family. We even to go to Uncle Paul' s buffalo ranch.

I made this yummy pumpkin banana tart. It was so much better
than pumpkin pie. Even Ashton liked it and pumpkin pie is his favorite!

Fly Fishing

This was just a baby fish to some of the other ones we caught.

Brian, Jessie, Me, and Rachel

This Friday Fun Break was fly fishing thanks to Ramon! We had a great time catching some rainbow trout up Provo Canyon.

I am grateful for my program and my awesome cohort. I love being able to practice what we preach and grow closer together as we learn together!

Some Friday Fun

Every Friday the grad students get together and do something recreational. We are really just trying to practice what we preach. One week was kayaking--half of us fell in the river--those silly barges. This past week was Halloween and we all gathered at Eliza's to make some doughnuts and apple cider. A few weeks ago we played wheelchair rugby. It was such a blast. I don't have any pictures, but I will try to get some soon.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

So Ashton came and was here for two weeks. It was the greatest two weeks. We spent tons of time together. Babysitting, going to the temple, a trip to Logan, taking naps together, going to a movie (a real novelty for us).

And now he is gone back to New Zealand. He is such a hard worker and I am so proud of him and all that he does.

I love you Ashton. I am grateful for you, my little Maori! I can't wait to see you again soon! Give all of New Zealand my best regards. I can't wait to go back.

Kia Ora Ashton! And Ka Kite Ano!

Utah....Finally

After all these croquet games and living in Utah for so long. We finally did our own state. The capitol building had been staring us down for a long time and now we can drive by with confidence. It was our 20th capitol (19 states and our nation's)! We are certainly excited to hit up Hawaii someday!

A special thanks to Tyler and Rachel for playing with us!

Together and On the Road Again

At the beginning of the month I flew out to Pittsburgh to drive back to Utah with Ashton. We have a goal to play croquet on the lawns of all the state capitols in America. On our way out to Pittsburgh we didn't have any time to play. So, we decided that we needed to make time to play on the way back.

We played eight games and tied 4-4. In Kansas we played with Ashton's best friend, Dustin. It was great to have an extra player.

We also stopped at Carthage jail and Nauvoo. It was our great pleasure to be able to attend the Nauvoo temple and be reminded of the dedication the saints of the earlier time had to the Church. The spirit in both Carthage and Nauvoo confirmed our testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we first got married I worked a little for Ashton's Uncle Blair who sculpts the busts for the pro football hall of fame. He has also been commissioned to do a wagon train for a bank in Nebraska. I helped to make molds of his sculptures and so we went and took a look at the final product.

We had a great trip back. It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time together after being apart for so long.

Abseiling

Being a graduate student has its perks--especially when you are in the recreation department. Every Friday that we don't have class (we have a seminar that is assigned to random Fridays) we plan to do something fun. This past week we went abseiling or rappelling. Families are invited and our mate Clive brought his 4 boys! We are lucky to have Clive in our program all the way from Australia!

Happy Anniversary Inn

On the 16th of this month we celebrated out two year anniversary! It has been a fantastic two years together. We have traveled the world and met people with beautiful hearts. We have had so many growing experiences together. We certainly can't imagine life without the other in it.

Ashton wasn't here on our actual day, but he had come out a few weeks earlier and surprised me by taking me to the Anniversary Inn. We stayed in the Bridal Veil Falls room. It was so cool. We also went out to eat at Cafe Pierpont--and found that they went out of business--a year ago! So we went to the Red Iguana and I got to have my favorite Mexican dish--the chimichanga.

Happy Anniversary Ashto! I love you!

Pirate's Game

Right before I left to come back out here to UT. Ashton took me on a date to a Pirate's game. Before we left he had written all over the parking lot in sidewalk chalk. He drew our "bus window" and "I heart you infinity" and "Will you marry me?" On our way out we heard one lady say that she was glad she didn't park where she almost did because she would have ruined someone's day. Little did she know we are already married. Ashton is just silly.

The End of Pittsburgh....Sort of....

So I have been terrible at blogging lately, but all for seemingly good reason. Not ever being by a computer with internet seems to be to be a good reason. In August I went to Florida and Alabama with my uncle and his family. It was so amazing! We stayed in Destin--the most beautiful place in Florida--white sand beaches; teal, glass-like water; tons of fun in the sun! I really enjoyed Alabama too. We went on this dolphin boat ride up into the swampy areas and saw all kinds of wildlife. It was amazing. Thanks Phil and Lori for taking me with you guys. I had a great couple of weeks with you!

So I say "the end of Pittsburgh...sort of..." because it was the end for me, but not the end for Ashton. He has done such a phenomenal job this summer. Every year he fine tunes his managing skills and his selling techniques. He is a fine salesman. I always tell him that if he can sell me he can sell anyone! Pinnacle decided to keep an extension office in Pittsburgh and asked Ashton to stay and manage it. He is the one who knows the area the best and he has already done so well--managing the top office in the top region. Number 8 office in the whole company. Great job Ashton! So he is there, in Pittsburgh, still selling.

And I am here, in Utah, still going to school. I can't complain. I love school. BYU started again the day after Labor Day and I started again right along with it. Master's degree here I come! The Youth and Family Recreation program has treated me well so far. There is tons of reading, but I like reading. There are so many interesting things to learn, and so many perspectives to see things from. I love the people in my program, especially those in my cohort. I really think that it is going to be a fun two years.

In a week and a half I am going to fly back out to Pittsburgh and drive back with Ashton. We are greatly looking forward to it. We can't wait to hit up some more capitols on our capitol croquet tour! We are also looking forward to going to Omaha to see Uncle Blair's sculptures as well as Nauvoo for some church history.