Jake Graduation

Graduation II

Jake graduated on May 5 with a Bachelor of Science in Watershed Science from the College of Natural Resources. I know I wasn't there through his entire education, but I'm so proud of him for making it to this point! Like I was saying in my other graduation post, I love the ceremony of it all, and this was no exception - I may have even loved it more because it was at USU (my alma mater) and I could sing along and clap for the people I knew and hold near and dear.

His college ceremony was short and sweet - it was the best one I've been to. The speaker had a speech prepared that was down to earth and real and there were 60 graduates (if that). We celebrated with a party in the park and a concert that night. Can't forget a giant meal the night before either. It was a great time to be around friends and family and enjoy those milestones. Congrats Jake!

Park City

Park City

Blair wanted to do some pre-Europe shopping and I needed to get some professional clothes so we headed to Park City to hit up the outlets and have some fun. We invited our men and while we shopped they wandered main street. I think it was a success for all.

Driving in Blair Force 1 to PC

Blair and I

Jake and I at O'Shucks

Chalay's Wedding

Congrats to my cute Cousin and her new Husband! Wishing them all the best!

April 26, 2012

Mom and Mariah Graduation

Graduation I

My Mom, with a Master's and Mariah, with a Bachelor's, graduated from BYU on April 20. It was a two day celebration of marching, pictures and parties. We watched as they marched in, clapped as they were recognized and cheered as they graduated! They had a bar-be-que to celebrate and it was nice to spend time with the family.

I love graduation. It reminds me to keep learning, and excel to be the best I can be. This one was no exception, with so many important people finishing something so hard (degrees) it was nice to know that education isn't obsolete.

The Marriott Center - Commencement

Mariah, Dr. Hill and my mom before the first ceremony! I'm so proud

Dad's office (for some fun thrown in)

Pole, Pedal, Paddle

Pole, Pedal, Paddle in Jackson Hole, WY

We headed to Jackson Hole late Friday night, crashed at a cheap motel and got up bright and early for the race. Pole, Pedal, Paddle is a race put on by the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club. Learn more about it here (I'd recommend doing it, it was a blast. Next year I'm going to be dressed up like mad!). Forrest did the first leg, the downhill skiing at Teton Village. Christine was off second to do that skate-ski on the 10k route. Next it was my turn. I grabbed the bib, jumped on my bike and got on the road to do a 20 mile ride. My wheel was on backward so I had to stop and get it fixed but I was soon on my way. The ride was really pretty, even though it rained almost the whole time and I had that delightful dirt track up my butt and back. I handed the bib to Forrest and he was off in the kayak to do a 9 mile stretch on the Snake River. We jumped in the 4-runner and went to the finish line to cheer him on. Our team, The Frozen Beavers, (fondly named after our beloved ski resort) took last place in the co-ed section. Maybe we'll do better next year....

Needless to say, we had a blast. Later that night we spent time wandering around Teton Village, scarfing pizza, and listening to the live jams of G Love and Special Sauce with a billion other people. We headed home Sunday morning, tired but happy!

Between the downhill and crosscountry legs.

Doing my portion

Post ride, tired, but happy.

look how cool we are!

Jake and I at the finish line. He was supposed to kayak, but because of the knee (it really put a damper on things. And how about that stache?) he was there as moral support and photographer.

The team celebrating after the big 'win'. ;)

March 31

Saint Patrick's Day March 17

I think that St. Patrick's Day is pretty self-explanitory.

It was fun!

Coyote Gulch ---> Surgery

Coyote Gulch

We squished in the car, packed all our bags and drove to Escalante. The trip was supposed to be 3 days of fun and excitement in the beautiful Coyote Gulch. A memorable spring break trip. That wasn't what happened.

This is what it was like before.

Chris, Nick, Kim, Alaina, Me, Christine and Jake

Then Jake decided to step funny, carry too much weight and be a complete idiot and we ended up with a torn ACL and one messed up meniscus. 

This is the after.

Jake somehow screwed his knee up to the max. We went to the tiny clinic in Escalante, UT. The couldn't do anything but prescribe pain killers. We picked up the pain killers. We went to a doctor in SLC. He couldn't do anything but take x-rays. We talked to a doctor at The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital. He wasn't a surgeon. We talked to the surgeon. We had to wait a few days for surgery. So finally, April 3rd rolled around and Jake was able to get surgery on his damned knee.

So instead of an ideal spring break trip, I ended up driving this cripple to and from SLC, around Logan and taking care of him post surgery. I shouldn't complain, we spent a lot of quality time together. And, by quality, I mean drugged up time. He was a great patient and I'd like to think I was a decent nurse.  Surgery went fantastically. He was in a full leg/no movement brace for about a week. Then crutches along with physical therapy and now he is almost back to normal. I'm glad he got it done - I can't imagine the pain. But what a lousy way to spend the spring and early summer.

The sexiest shorts at the doctors office. Visit one.

Pre surgery. Obviously not on drugs yet.

Also pre-surgery, although it's hard to tell.

Showing off the swollen/shaved knee and hospital gown.

Ready to rock this surgery.

This is real. Messed up on the drugs. He looks dead, but not really.

And this is the first week after. Swollen had gone down but the bruising was gnarly and the smell... well just say I'm a fan of showers.

Some Springtime Fun

Springtime Fun

Since the winter was so mild this year, springtime came fast and furious. The weather was fabulous and the weekends were filled with fun (sitting down fun anyway - more on the knee later). We cooked in the dutch oven pretty often. Played yard games and hung out with friends. What a great time to be in Logan! 

Dutch oven potatoes, fresh salad and marinated steak.

Hanging out one afternoon in the front yard

Dangly Ball!

Skiing at Sundance

Sundance Ski Day

We headed to Utah Valley for a quick ski day weekend. Fortunately, Jake's knee was feeling better but it was still a good day to take it easy. We strolled up for a half day and got on the slopes pretty quick. The sun was shining and we headed to the backside for some steep runs and some challenging terrain.  I hadn't been to Sundance since I had learned to snowboard and it was nice to see the mountain as a much more confident rider. We spent some nice time in the hot tub that night and it was nice to spend time with the family!

Making some sick turns

My dad and I in the lift line- ski day compliments of him

Jose, Mariah, Jake and I in line.

President's Day at Brianhead

Brian Head Ski Weekend

Jake and I packed the Jetta full of gear and headed to Southern Utah for the long Presidents Day weekend. We showed up at the Brian Head Condo and had some dinner and hung out with the family. We crashed and headed to Eagle Point resort (about an hour an a half away from Brian Head) to watch Dusty compete and to get some sunshine-y skiing in.  The resort was really weird, but we made the most of it. It was a nice day to be outside and we had fun. That night Jake and Joey (the cousin) were wrestling and popped the air mattress we were supposed to be sleeping on for the next couple nights. Hello, floor.

The next day we got up the next day for a fabulous day of skiing. I think it may have been the best day of the season.We skied with Jake's cousin Joey and Dusty.  It didn't stop snowing all day, so every run was Utah powdery goodness.  Unfortunately the end of the day brought a bad crash for Jake. On what was going to be our second to last run (ended up being the last), Jake jumped off a cat track and landed funny in the powder. He had pulled his right knee apart and, what we later found out, had torn his meniscus.
Needless to say he wasn't walking, driving, skiing or much of anything for the next few days. Thus ended our tour of Southern Utah.

Loving the weather - right before they jumped off the lift.

Dusty and Joey riding. Look at that snowfall!

Super Bowl

Super Bowl XLVI

This year, for the superbowl, Blair and I cook up a feast of snacks and ended up celebrating with , Alanna, Alanna's friend Gary, she and I. A small but excellent party. We also played BINGO with the commercials. I don't think I've ever paid that much attention to the Super Bowl...

All the dips and snacks 

The best cooks