FOUR!!!

For Memorial weekend, we decided to take a little trip down to St. George to do some golfing and bask in the sun. We started off the vacation by golfing at the St. George Golf Club. It was the perfect course for us as it was not busy and we could golf by ourselves.

We decided to play best ball since this was technically my first time playing real golf (I have played glow in the dark golf on a course but it is all very different in the daylight). I am proud to report that I had one good hole. We used two of my balls on it and it was the only hole we got par on. Yeah for hole number 7!!!

After golfing we took in some rays by the pool. I got a little sunburned, but not too bad. Mitch got even more tan and got some interesting tan lines from his shirt. Finally we ended the trip with a quick jaunt to Mesquite, NV where Mitch played blackjack and won a whopping $12.50. It was a nice little trip and a great way to enjoy our three day weekend.

Friends no more

This past weekend my parents were watching my sister and Shad's dog while they were in Moab.

He and I used to be the best of buds until this happened:

oh and this:

and not to mention all the bruises on my legs - and these pictures were taken a few days after the incident. For some reason Dublin thinks I am a chew toy. Unfortunately, I discovered this when I was all alone with him playing frisbee in the yard. It was quite the struggle to get him to stop biting me and then I ended up carrying a chair around with me to keep him away from me. He only did this to me, no one else and unfortunately, I am the only one he doesn't listen to or obey. I know he probably thinks it is a game because if he wanted to, he could bite my arm off instead of just bruising me, but it scared me especially when he started growling since he NEVER barks or growls. Now I refuse to be alone with him. Maybe in two years when he is over the puppy stage we can be friends again.

Red dirt is still dirt...

This last week was spring break for Mitch, so we decided to take advantage of it by taking a short trip to Moab. We decided to camp out in the great outdoors, or as close to the great outdoors as I get - a KOA campsite. It took some convincing from Mitch, but we camped in an actual tent. He has been bugging me for quite some time to go camping so for his birthday this year I got him a tent and my parents got him an air mattress. This trip gave us the opportunity to finally use the tent and let Mitch experience camping with me and what a joy it was!! I was a good sport and only complained a few times a day. Anyone who knows me, knows that camping is just not my thing. I don't enjoy dirt of any form or color, wild animals, the lack of temperature control, and the boredom, but most of all the dirt. I tried to explain this to Mitch, but he just had to experience it for himself, so experience he did. Luckily for him, it was only for one night. We did have fun cooking dinner (despite our lack of patience with the charcoal - we almost went to a restaurant in town), reading our books in the sun, and taking a trip to the local gas station. I personally really enjoyed the BUH (Big Utah Hair) that is alive and strong in good old Price, UT. It made me proud!!!

The next day, we went to arches to do some hiking (another thing I LOVE to do - NOT). Once again, I warned Mitch, but he just had to experience it for himself, so experience he did. It was a short hike, but I was more than ready to be done about half way through. Despite this, it was fun showing Mitch the arches for the first time. He really enjoyed it and that made me happy. All in all, it was a good trip and nice to get away for a bit, but above all I think it was a learning experience especially for Mitch. The lesson learned: Kristen does NOT do dirt.

Ikea Adventures

Last Thursday, my sister and I met up for lunch and shopping at Ikea. We had a lovely lunch at our favorite chinese restaurant and then we were off to Ikea. My sister and her husband just bought a house and are in the process of settling in, so we were on the hunt for furniture for their new office. We were quite successful and came away with a bookshelf, filing cabinet, two chairs, two foot rests, and losts of little knicknacks. The fun part was fitting it all into the car. It took us a good hour and lots of loading and unloading, but we finally managed to fit everything despite all the despairing looks from the Ikea employees. Unfortunately, it left little room for us to fit in the car. My sister had the steering wheel in her lap and I had my knees in my chest. It was not the most comfortable ride home, but it was definitely amusing for us and the other cars on the freeway. We are Ikea pros!!

Valentine

We had a great first Valentine's Day as a married couple. It started with Mitch making me a yummy breakfast complete with flowers, chocolates, and a teddy bear. Then we went to the Utah basketball game against Air Force. It was a good game and we even ran into Kaylynn and some of her family. Then that night, we headed up to Park City where we had dinner reservations. We did this last year on you very first Valentines and Mitch is determined to make it a tradition. It was a very romantic day and I am so grateful for my sweet and considerate husband. I love you honey!!

The Power of a Book...

I generally don’t discuss religious matters on the blog, but a special occurrence causes me to do it. On Sunday, a man in my parents’ ward was baptized. I know, I know, this probably seems like a pretty normal occurrence, but this situation is one to share. This man moved into the ward about 16 years ago with his cute family. The mom is a member of the church and is super active. She has held countless callings and has even been the Relief Society President and his man has been supportive of her through it all, but he respectfully asked not to be bothered about joining the church. He is a good man with a good heart and he has attended church faithfully the entire 16 years he has lived in the neighborhood. That’s right, 16 years!!! He started with just coming to sacrament and then he gradually added the other meetings. Their kids have all been baptized and their son has received the priesthood all with their dad watching proudly on. Yet, he had no interest in being baptized. So, what changed this man and caused him to take the step to get baptized? He read the Book of Mormon for the first time ever. Wow, what power this book has!! Nothing in the last 16 years has changed this man. None of the meetings he attended, none of ordinances he witnessed, none of the faithful friends he has, not even the faith of his wife could do what one book did. Amazing.

So, here’s to this man and the powerful lesson / reminder he has given me!!

A New Year's to Remember...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New Year’s Eve is kinda a special day for us because it is the day we very first met. Long story short, last year I worked up the guts and called Mitchell for the first time and invited him to go to a party with and my friends in Park City. Lucky for me he is an adventurous guy so he said yes. Apparently, for him it was love at first sight but for me it was a bit different. I thought he was a nice, good-looking guy that I could potentially date until people started asking our how old we were. My jaw just about dropped to the ground when he said he was only 22 years old!!! I was under the impression he the same age as me or older, not two years younger. At the time it seemed like such a big gap, but now I have to remind myself he is two years younger. So, apparently the recipe for meeting your husband is to call a guy you’ve never met before out of the blue and invite him to a super lame party in a city 30 minutes away and then act super appalled when he says how old he is. Who knew? Lucky for me, he didn’t give up on us and he called me a week later to ask me out and the rest is history!!

So, to commemorate such a special day for us, we decided to celebrate in style. Mitchell made us reservations for a romantic dinner at Tuscany and I made us reservations to stay at the Anniversary Inn. However, I thought the whole night was ruined when that afternoon I discovered some very unsettling news at work. After crying the whole way home I didn’t think the evening could be saved. Luckily I have a very understanding and loving husband who is the opposite of me and is very good about putting things to side and enjoying the moment. He was determined to make the night special and he did a great job. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a great way to start the New Year for us. So, here is to knowing Mitchell for a year!! Happy Anniversary and we continue to make a great team!!!

MITCHELL & KRISTEN