Education is a blessing (repeat 3 X's daily)

Two weeks ago school started for Jason and if you were to rate his level of excitement it was comparable to a kid eating their dreaded veggies. When I said we should take "first day school" pictures he response was a enthusiastic no. Instead he opted for posting this picture . . . 

His caption "Where I wish I was".. . I will agree with him on this one. 

School started this week for me and I have to admit that I wasn't too excited either. I had been working on my internship all summer so it felt like my summer didn't really happen at all. Plus I'm taking a Law class this semester as one of my capstone classes. . . . (audible groaning). But I do have to admit that I only have this semester and then 2 more classes and I'm DONE! GRADUATEO, FINIS, DAS ENDE. So I can't really complain (as Jason puts it). 

Don't get me wrong I am a firm believer that education is a major blessing and should be treated as such. Like the post title says, I just need to remind myself of this. But then when you throw law into it  . ...

... anyways GO COUGARS! Bahahaha Trogdor strikes again!! (Jay is going to love seeing that I wrote that)

What do you guys do for your date nights? We like to wander aimlessly with no purpose whats so ever around the local DI stores. Often times we'll walk away with a random book or two or like on our last rampage, a potato peeler. (We buy these things of course)

DI is a magical place. Really it is. The outdoor section is the best!  A lot of our apartment has DI touches to it and you would never know. . . well maybe you would but it works for us. 

If you've never been to DI for date night you're missing out. 

View from Grove Creek Canyon

For those of you who don't know, there is a plethora of hikes in the local area. Grove Creek being one, Battle Creek, Dry Canyon, etc. We were only able to go about 2 miles up into Grove Creek before we had to turn around, aka I about died from exhaustion, but as you get farther up it takes you more onto Timp and you can hike in and camp there. There are really pretty meadows and rivers up in there.  Whats really neat is that a lot of these hikes inter-connect with each other as well. 

If you are feeling the Hiking itch and want to go try one of the hikes let us know and we'd love to come with you! Its always fun to hike with friends. 

Now onto our fur baby. She is a pill, but she's really cute. I have never seen a cat poop so much. With my last cat I cleaned out her litter about every week. Timmy makes enough deposits that her litter needs cleaning about every 3 days... Anyways Timmy has started to warm up to us and will come out when we get up in the morning, come out during the day (sometimes), and will follow you around the apt meowing for attention and to be petted. Then when you try and pet her, she runs away. Typical woman... can't make up her mind. ps sharyti said it was ok for me to leave this in the blog. She's nice. I'll keep her. Oh gosh.

She has a habit though of hiding under the bed or couch whenever there are loud noises or if Jason looks at her wrong. We're making progress with her slowly and we're pretty sure she doesn't think we're big scary giants that are going to eat her any more. 

Food Love/Experimentation #1 - Ginger Snaps

I was feeling excited for fall this past week so I decided to make some form of spice treat. What better treat for a Ginger to make then ginger snaps right? So I used a recipe I have used for the past few years and have loved. I know it works because when I make them the balls of dough magically disappear off the cookie sheet when I turn around. . . 

Recipe:

3/4 cup butter               2 tsp Baking soda

1 cup sugar                  1/2 tsp salt

1 egg                        1 1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 cup molasses (yum)       3/4 tsp cinnamon

2 cups flour                 1/2 tsp cloves

Cream butter, add sugar gradually. Beat until Fluffy. Add egg and molasses: blend. Stir or sift together flour, soda, salt, and spices; blend into butter mixture. Roll small portions of dough into balls, roll in granulated sugar. Bake for 8-10 min or till their fluffy and melted at 350 degrees.

That one time we didn't update for three weeks. .

The last week of July concluded our adventure in the Beaver mountains. Halle-stinkin-lujah All in all it was a success. A lot of ups and downs, but overall a memorable experience. I would say memorable is a choice word to use but it works. Nah, we definitely learned a lot and grew closer together because of the struggles we got to face this summer so it could therefore be declared a success.

Pictured below was after one of the many ATV rides with the scouts. We didn't get much rain this season so all the trails were overwhelmingly dusty. Like, you're running around as Pig Pen from Peanuts for the next 24 hours or at least until you can get a shower. I had a good time with all my biking groups. I had a lot more injuries this year than last, but luckily I didn't have to send anyone to the ER. As camp commissioner I learned a lot and had fun getting to interact more with the participants and the leaders. It was stressful at times but theres nothing quite like helping boys to push beyond their limits and do hard things and walk away from the experience wanting to do more. 

We are happy to be back in the real world however. I have to say I was pretty ecstatic for running water and not having to sleep on an air mattress any more. Its the little things you really become more grateful for when living in the mountains in a tent for 2 months. We spent one night at Mom and Pop Williams's then headed up to our new apartment. Sharyti was slightly happy to be back, as you can see lol. 

We got everything moved into our apartment the week following camp. I think we are going to be happy here. It's a one bed one bath basement apartment under Sharyti's grandma's house. We also got our new car registered. . . finally. Our house may be slightly dark (to be expected with a basement apartment) and spider infested but we love it :) It sure beats a tent! I agree with everything that he said but I do have to let you know that if we disappear and can not be found it is because the spiders have taken us for all of their family members we have murdered these past few weeks. . . Spiders .. lots of them o.O

While in the process of moving in, we found out Sharyti's mom was in a bad bike accident, but I'll let her tell you about that. I will say that it was a busy and scary week full of stress and trying to get moved in along with visiting Debany in the hospital and helping out around their house.

These past two weeks have been the hardest two weeks of my life next to some of the experiences I've had on my mission. No child should ever had to see their parents go through something like this to be honest. Like Jay said my mom was in a severe biking accident on August 1st. She fractured her skull and ripped the membrane around her brain, broke her collar bone, broke 4 ribs, and some other medical injuries. We were in and out of the hospital staying with her so my dad could go home, get things done, and shower. My siblings and i traded on and off through out the week. As well as working with my siblings to try and keep their garden and yard alive. She's been in and out of the ICU and the ER since but things are finally beginning to look up. The power of prayer and love is real. My mother is absolute proof of that. I have to say Jay was absolutely amazing these past few weeks with helping his poor wife. Her, my, emotions were like a roller coaster. He deserves a big round of applause. 

On the second Tuesday after getting back from camp we decided to go to look at some cats. We had been talking about adopting a cat for quite some time but never had the chance up till now. And we were both just a little excited to bring home a fury friend. We found one that we really liked and we and got her the next day. She is a beautiful calico that is about 16 months old. She was super freaked out with the whole experience of bring her home to a new and strange place, and has been taking her time getting comfortable with her new surroundings. (Aka she hides under the couch all day and only comes out at night. BUT! She uses the litter Box - big bonus on her end) Because of this, we decided to name her Timid, or Timmy for short. She will come out from under the couch at night when we are in bed, or sometimes we can coax her out while we are there. Once we get her out, she will play with us a bit and let us pet her, so I think she will warm up to us before too long. Jay and I are absolutely smitten with her and may have already begun spoiling her like the newbie wanna be parents that we are. So yup, we have a new member to our family and its a cat. 

Back to "Normality" soon. .

 Jason is currently passed out on the bed next to me as I write this. In short, that's how we both feel right now - tired and sore. This next week is our last week at camp and then its back to "normality" or what may seem like normal. I have to admit I'm "kid with ice cream" excited to have in door plumbing and squirrel proof walls. Don't get me wrong I love camping and being in the mountains. But "living" in the mountains in a tent is a whole new story. 

 We're finally going to be moving into the apt in Lindon and I'll be back at my old job while Jay has the fun time of trying to find a new job that will work with his school schedule. 

Pictured below is what we've been up to the past little bit since we've slacked on writing new posts. 

One thing I'll miss the most other then the sunsets at Beaver is the opportunity to shoot almost everyday. I'm afraid I'll loose my "Brave" (Merida) skills. This is probably what Jason is going to miss the most too. No, not me looking awesome while I do archery but the time he's had to practice doing Arial Archery. (Someone's addicted to it) 

 Fun fact: The past couple of weeks I kept getting these bites that would swell up really really big and hurt and itch like no body's business. Turns out we think I'm allergic to Horse Fly's. . . yaaay. The only comfort I have is knowing that the ones that bit me are probably dead because of how stinky we get up at camp. 

 This is the newest addition to our family. Ain't she a beauty! Its a 2005 Honda CR-V. 

 We went to the Rodeo for Nephi Days last weekend and Jason surprised me with a ride on the Ferris wheel after. Ferris wheels are my favorite and he had never been on one turns out so it was a must. 

Just a few things I love about the place where we live - Rodeos and sunsets. 

Jason has been on point when its come to our weekend "recuperating after a crazy week at camp" dates. Yesterday he took me up the Mona Pole trail to Salamander Pond and it was absolutely AMAZING! Definitely a new favorite and I hope we can do it again in the fall when all the colors are changing. I highly suggest going up this trail if you haven't done it before. 

 Now onto our last week of camp and another week full of adventure. 

Car troubles and Jay's birthday

Jason: These last few weeks have been an adventure! This picture is one of the best activities at BHAB. It is like shooting clay pigeons with shotguns but instead with bows and arrows. The targets are foam disks thrown by this huge machine. I usually spend a lot of the free time we have doing this. Sharyti: Yes, yes he does. He's one of the best shots up at camp and the scouts love watching him. I'm just sitting there thinking "yup that's my husband" ;) You use flu-flu arrows so they don't go very far, but even still, its kinda scary sometimes when the scouts are doing it because they can be kinda wild with it haha. (Below Sharyti shooting with a scout leader)

 2 weekends ago we went to Manti to see the Manti Pageant. We got to spend some time at one of our friends from camps house. His brother had a little pit bike that Sharyti looooved. I don't think saying "loved" is even strong enough. I told Jason we need to get one . . . just bigger. It was her first time driving a motorcycle and she did fantastic! Fantastic is a little of an overstatement Jay, it was an automatic. It wasn't an automatic, you still have to shift it just didn't have a clutch. Well a monkey could have driven it.  He also had a part of an American Ninja Warrior course set up. It was fun but I am not strong enough to do much of it. Jay did better then he lets on.

This same weekend we were having problems with the battery in our car. The beginning of our car nightmare. . We had to jump start it numerous times before we were able to get a new battery. Then when we got back to camp we got a flat tire. We had time Monday evening to run down to Beaver to get it fixed and we ended up getting all new tires, cuz we needed them bad. (Fun side note I got super sick that week up at camp and Jason was really sweet in taking care of me and going to the doctor down in Beaver with me. Lets just say when trials come it rains. All I can say is thank goodness for priesthood power)

 The next weekend we headed down to St. George for my birthday weekend. PARTY!!!!! While there we had to get our transmission flushed, making it almost $1000 that we spent in a week on our car (yesterday we started having problems with the starter motor. The car starts but it sounds like a cat giving birth to a t-rex when you turn the key. . . yay!) There goes our paycheck. We still had a great weekend hanging out with Skyler and Brandy and their two kids. Sharyti and I also got to stay in a hotel Saturday night for my birthday. It had a shower! This magnificent thing is what I was the most excited for, lets be real. And a real bed!! This video is at Skylers in-laws house. There was a birthday party going on for Brandys brother and we crashed it and played on the bouncy house obstacle course they had. Sharyti dominated. I didn't dominate, I DESTROYED! ;)

 This is a reservoir that you drive past to get to the camp. It is absolutely beautiful! Beaver canyon is pretty amazing. I hope to get more pictures of the actual camp because it is just as amazing. I just never think to while we are there.

 This weekend marks 1 year of me and Sharyti being together! We started dating on July 3rd last year. Best day ever (minus the day we got hitched). Amen. This year I recreated our first date. It involved not getting into an archery store, walking around Dick's Sporting Good Store, eating at In-N-Out (this is when the date last year actually began, the before stuff was just hanging out), ice skating, and going to a movie. It was good times this weekend. Fun side note, the shirt I'm wearing in this picture was the one I bought last year at Dick's.

 Sharyti's friends are out of town this weekend and let us house sit for them. Another real shower and bed!! After church today we went to the Provo City Center Temple, and currently we are at Sharyti's sisters house. 

In short these past few weeks have helped us realize just how lucky we are to have each other and to be surrounded and supported by good friends and family. Also I hate cars. . .yup.

What are we getting ourselves into. . .

For Memorial Day we got to go boating with Sharyti's sister. The water was freezing but we both got in and swam a bit as well as wakeboard. I got a little too ambitious my first time up and tried jumping. I caught my edge and face planted in the water, nearly knocking the air out of me. I was a little more timid after that haha. It was a good day altogether, even though both Shar and I got ridiculously burned. We both ended up with blisters on our shoulders.

Ridiculous doesn't even cut it. As a redhead I should have known better but for some odd reason I think I can tan like the rest of my family o.O not. I think we're both still peeling from the burns but feeling sooo much better and more vigorous with our sunscreen application. 

We got to babysit Kristy and Phils kids last Saturday. We had some good times playing at the park and watching American Ninja Warrior. We attempted to make our own obstacle course at the Mona park. It was good fun :) 

Good fun it was but I'll tell you what I have a very strong respect for my siblings and sibling in-laws that keep up with their kids day to day. We just watched these cute munchkins for 12 hours and I was pooped by the end of it. You guys are awesome!!! Thank goodness they only come one at a time right? . . .usually at least (Jeff and Christy) lol.

This week at camp was the first week with participants. Monday I had a group go mountain biking, and Sharyti, being the Camp Commissioner, had to check all the groups in. We had over 250 kids up at camp this week. It was pretty hectic to say the least. We had more injuries among the scouts this week that almost all of last summer. We kept the camp nurse busy.

(One of the fun duties of being commissioner is I get to be in charge of flag ceremony every morning)

On my mountain biking trip on Monday we road a new trail I hadn't been on. It was about 8 miles of downhill, with only a few small hills we had to climb. It was kind of a boring trail because it was all road or atv track, no single track, but it was still a good workout. As you can see in the picture, we biked up to the summit at 10,000 ft. My lungs were hating me lol.

About 3 miles into the ride, one of the scouts went down hard and cut himself up pretty bad. When I got to where he was he was on his back with blood coming out from around his eye, as well as from numerous scrapes around his body. His sunglasses broke and cut his face just under his eye. Luckly for the kid (and me, cuz I have no medical training other than to put a bandaid on it) 2 of the leaders in the group with us were doctors. The kid was a trouper though, and eventually got back on his bike and rode the rest of the trail.

We had 5 flat tires as well as one other wreck. I ended up trading my bike with one of the leaders who had the last flat so he could ride the rest of the way. I walked it about 1.5 miles. It was a crazy first day mountain biking again.

I also got to help out with the ATV's Tuesday and Wednesday. I have a tough job lol ;).

While Jay was constantly (at least it seemed like it) dealing with injuries i was running around making sure the different groups were on the right schedule and having a good time. I also am blessed with the opportunity to be one of the shooting sports directors again. So I get to do double duty this summer but its good because it helps provide me with a lot of experience for my internship. (I just need to remind myself this when we collapse at the end of the day onto our lovely new air mattress). I think we're getting older because i feel like last year we weren't nearly this tired or sore. . . Jason does turn 26 in 2 weeks. . ;) 

All in all it was a long, tiring week, and I was glad to leave a day early (as was I) so Sharyti could help her sister get ready for the baby shower they hosted for their oldest sister.

I have to add though it is a blessing to be up there is the mountains this time of year. The sunrises in the morning when I run and the sunsets at the end of a long day always seem to be absolutely perfect. The world is a beautiful place and I love living in it. (It's just when I start smelling by the end of the week that I am also reminded of mans greatest invention = in door plumbing). This summer is going to be an adventure but i couldn't be happier to do with this crazy kid.

 (insert cheesy face)

Let it begin

Jason: This last week we spent up in the Beaver mountains. Funny story about those mountains. Its where we met :), but that is another story. This year we are returning for Sharyti's education. We lucked out and she is able to use this job as her internship for her major.

This week was the pre-staff week. Besides us, it was the camp director, program director, and the camp cook up there. We were basically just getting the camp de-winterized. We unloaded all the stuff in the lodge and cleaned up the different camp sites.

We were having all sorts of nostalgia as we drove into the BHAB (Beaver High Adventure Base) area. It felt as if only a few weeks had transpired since we had last been there. It was awesome to see the different locations were we began to fall in love. Like the. . . never mind. If I continue that train of thought I might lose my man card. Shar will have to pick up that lovey dovey crap. Lol jk. Lets just say it reminded us a lot of our giddy beginnings.

It was an eventful week. We arrived Monday afternoon and set up our tent and got ourselves settled. Tuesday, and pretty much the rest of the week, we did the random things around camp to get it ready for staff week. We cut up and removed fallen trees around the different camp sites, moved the four wheelers out of the lodge and tried to get them running (all the batteries were dead), set up the canopies and tables for the dining area next to the lodge, got the shooting sports area set up. and etc. The fun thing was we only had good weather Monday. Tuesday through Thursday it decided it wanted to snow and hale on us. It was still better than rain though. We continued to work through it, and the manual labor kept us warm through the freezing weather.

Wednesday, Dave's (the camp director) wife and kids showed up. They have 3 boys and a girl on the way. It was fun to see the kids again and to play with them a bit.

By Thursday mid morning, Dave decided we had gotten enough done for the week and let us pack up and head home. It was nice because both me and Shar were sore and tired from the lack of sleep and hard work. We spent a restful day Friday at my parents house, watching movies and playing the Wii.

Saturday we headed up to Shar's parents house for the rest of the weekend. We ran some errands, picked up some work pants at DI for me cuz I can hardly fit into my old ones anymore :(. Im hoping camp will help out with that lol. We had dinner at Sarens, then went on a date :). We took a walk down Provo center street. Window shopping ensued as well as strolling around a Polynesian Festival that was taking place. We walked around the Provo City Center Temple, then headed back to the car to meet up with Brett (who ended up being super late and we baled on him because we were both getting tired).

That brings us up to now :).

Newly Married and Camping already

Jason: Old Post that I had started but forgot to post lol. This is us right after we got married. 

Sharyti: I'll take over from here - We counted this as part of the "Honeymoon" even though it was Jan 1st-2nd that we went. Yes you read that right. We went camping in January. Are we crazy you might ask? I would think so! There was a good layer of snow on the ground and there were melted spots under the tent where we had slept. Despite the absolutely freezing weather I loved showing Jason my favorite national park that I've been too. We can now cross off winter camping on our family bucket list. I don't think it was ever on though . . lol.