July Fourth Celebrations, Part Two

After the boys got back at 11:45 on the Third, we headed up to Y Mount to hike in the hot, hot heat.

So very, very hot. Even the dogs were dying. Coco, a black little furball, ran from shadow to shadow. It was pretty cute.

Here Alex is, walking a bush. He looks so happy.

Halfway up, where you turn into the canyon, is this lovely huge rock with lots of shade. In the shadow, it was downright cool, with a nice breeze coming out of the canyon. Here is Allison looking all cute and stuff.

Silly, and slightly scary, boys.

Cute puppies!

Mint chocolate chip hiking buddies!

Then we got to the campsite and set up our tents and fire and all that. Normally, we hike to the top in time to watch the fireworks at Stadium of Fire, but Kurt and Alex were so tired from their all-nighter that we just hung out in the meadow for the night. It was still really fun!

The next morning we woke up, hung out by the fire and headed home. Kinda unceremonious, but nice and relaxing.

Good morning!

I look a) nervous b) like I have a double chin and c) really really unpretty.

On the road again.

After that, we went up to my Grandma Hatch's for a family party. The next day we broke the bank shopping at Ikea then headed home with our bounty in a moving truck. It was such a fun trip. Thanks everyone for the fun!

July Fourth Celebrations, Part One

Finally getting caught up on my posts! I haven't been this behind in years. I've just been so busy with finishing my book and school and what not. Seriously haven't been this busy in a long time. But it's been a good busy!
So, for 4th of July weekend, we decided to go up to Utah to hit up Ikea for some kitchen reno supplies. We also decided to do our now traditional Y hike with our besties, the Wilcox's! We arrived at their house on the 2nd and had some fun for a bit. Allison and I laid out while Kurt went to lunch with some other friends and Alex worked. Then, for dinner, we all went to Art City Trolley in Springville.

Then we went to Provo Freedom Festival where:

Kurt got a 5 minute back massage

I got a delicious chocolate covered frozen banana

We ran into Bee Money, the local Provo rapper

We wore silly sunglasses

Kurt and Alex played foosball

We played musical chairs

I battled Allison in paper rock scissors

And took silly pictures.

The boys didn't want to go but we all ended up having a really awesome time!

Then that night, the night before the hike, the boys decided to do an all-night hike up King's Peak, the tallest mountain Utah.

So hopeful.

So crazy.

Next up: the hike!

August Goals

Figured I'd go ahead and do my August goals post now. I've been obsessed with my book, but now the first draft is done and a few people are reading it. Speaking of, final stats of draft one: 57k words, 93 single-spaced pages. I have a lot more filling in to do, so the next draft will actually be bigger, not smaller. Then from there I'll probably start paring things down. My work is only half done. It's going to be a long road. Which segways nicely into my first goal:
-Don't look at, edit, read, etc., my book at all this month. I need a break. I'll probably still do research, but the actual book I can't touch. It's actually relieving.
-Stay on top of school work.
-Finish organizing the office.
-Read scriptures every day, even if it's only one verse.
-Get caught up on my posts. I'm behind by like 3 or 4. Whoopsie.

July Goals Recap

-Read at least two, hopefully three, books for school (and write papers for them). Not check. I was slightly obsessed with finishing my book. But I'm okay.

-Finish my book (this is the month!). Check! Huzzah!

-Organize the office (includes building our new bookshelves and finding a place for the old ones). Kurt and I got started on that last night and I'm glad he's helping me because it's a BIG job!

-Ride my bike to work on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. This month I will conquer! There turned out to be NO days I could ride my bike, for one reason or another. I did go on bike rides after work. But that might be on hold, depending on what I find out at the doctor tomorrow. More info on that to come ...
 
I technically only accomplished one of my goals this (last actually) month but I don't care because it was a BIG goal. So I feel good!

Two Crafts

I just finished two crafts! Yay! I've been kinda on a crafting binge lately, but these are my last for a while. I need to work on my book and school! The first are some pillows I got for our bed. It was looking a little bare. The end product is not perfect, but I kinda like it that way. And it was dirt cheap!

Before:

After:

Price breakdown:

3 Ikea pillows $3.99 each

10 feet of rope $2.12

Total: $14.09

The next is something I started in Utah with Allison and just finished. She has one just like it and when I saw it I knew I had to make one of my own. So I did (after she showed  me how)!

I almost didn't add the buttons but I'm so glad I did! That's what I just did. The rest was done before we even left Utah. Look how cute it looks with the big picture:

And the whole thing cost less than $10. Thanks Allison for the help!

My puppies

So I've had requests for a post on Ruby, how we got her, etc. Then I realized I've never done one about Swift. So, two birds with one stone.

Swiftarama

After Zumi had been dead for a month, I felt it was time to find a new shiba to love. I knew I would never be able to replace Zumi--he was truly the best dog I've ever known--but I needed to fill the void. So I looked on various websites, including Craig's List. Every shiba I called about on Craig's List was already taken. Then I found the ad for Swift and saw it had just been posted. I called and went and saw him the next day. Then took Kurt to see him on Saturday. On Saturday night, we decided to make him ours, so on Sunday morning, an incredibly snowy day, I drove down and picked him up. He loved us right away. Swift loves attention. Way more than Zumi did. He's a very hyper dog and does this little high step prance when he gets a toy. When we get home, he grabs a toy and runs around in circles. He often comes to me when I'm sitting on the couch and puts his head on my lap and waits for me to pet him. He's going through his teenager phase right now, which isn't fun, but he's still adorable and we love him. We are Swift's third home in only a year of life. His last two owners both got sick and weren't able to take care of him. His name was Bear Bear before we saved him from a life with a stupid name and renamed him Swift.

Ruby Tuesday

Ruby came into our life by happenstance. I was sitting at work one day when I got an email from my old coworker saying a friend of hers was moving and they had a shiba inu they couldn't take with them. Was I interested, she asked. Of course I was! So we arranged, via my friend, to take Ruby--then named Little Bear--for the weekend to see how our dogs got along. At first, they were great. They played and took naps together. By the end of the first day, though, Swift started getting territorial. And they started to fight. A lot. Never serious--no injuries or blood drawn--but it was still scary. I still really wanted Ruby. At work on Monday I asked people at work if this was normal for two dogs newly living together and they said absolutely. They said it should get better. So we decided to keep Ruby. The fighting has all but stopped and they get along great, even if Swift pushes his alpha role a little too hard. The third full we had her--the week I was gone for school--Ruby escaped from our background. She was missing for four days! And Kurt and I were out of town. Finally, through the help of some awesome friends--we were able to find her. Ruby is an incredibly sweet dog. She loves being pet and will paw at you if you stop petting her too soon. She loves rolling against and on our feet. She's barked only once and that was actually last night. We love our Ruby Roo!

Free Mirror!

When we went to Utah over July 4th weekend, my grandma gave us a gorgeous mirror:

Then she gave me a great idea. She painted her other one black with a natural sponge so the gold frame would show through the paint. So I decided to do it too. And I love the results!

The picture keeps uploading sideways for some reason. Grrr!

It looks so great above my kitchen table! And I would include a pic of that but my table is a disaster, just like the rest of my house. So yay for free stuff!

Kitchen Reno, Day Uno

Kurt tears into the wall.

Let the demolition begin!

July Goals

I'll forego the normal "I can't believe how fast the month is going by!" schpiel (sp?). Instead, let's just go ahead and talk about my goals:

-Read at least two, hopefully three, books for school (and write papers for them).
-Finish my book (this is the month!).
-Organize the office (includes building our new bookshelves and finding a place for the old ones).
-Ride my bike to work on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. This month I will conquer!

And that's it. Believe me, it will be enough.

June Goals Recap

Time for accountability...

-Design our kitchen reno (soooooooooo excited about that!) Check
-Read and write a paper for one book for school (I have no assignments due till August 18th, but I want to get ahead as much as possible ... in fact, I've already got 2 creative assignments mostly completed!) Not check :(
-Finish my YA fantasy book (yay!!!!!!). I can't believe I'll be able to say I've written a book. It's surreal. Not check :(
-Ride my bike to work every nice day in June. I failed horribly at this in May. Kurt surprised me with a helmet and bike gloves of my very own, so I have no excuse! Well, other than hating the waking up at 5:30 part. Not check :(


I didn't do so hot this month. But July will be better!!

South Carolina!

I went to South Carolina May 28th through June 12th for my residency for school. That was June 2nd through the 11th so I went a little early so I could spend some time with my family in Charleston. I didn't take many pictures, but I tried! We played games and ate lots of food and generally laughed a lot and loudly. Because that's how my family rolls. On Sunday, we walked the Cooper River Bridge, so I thought that was the perfect opportunity for taking pictures.

My little brother, Collin, who we all call Bud or Boy. Even Kurt does it.

Caroline

Lovely expression, Dad.

I took another series of sports continuous shots of Collin running up the bridge. Here is my favorite sequence:

Then I took some shots of views from the bridge. Here are my favorites:

Dos of my siblings.

My mom getting me back for years of bunny ears.

Then I went to grad school! I didn't take any pictures myself, but I stole some from the facebook page. 

Talking to someone before a reading. We had lectures and workshops all day, then readings at night. It was a very jampacked 9 days, but I love it. Energizing and tiring at the same time. 

Sitting at lunch with some of my friends, Nick and Kyler.

This is my friend Lindsay. She is the best! School wouldn't be nearly as fun without her.

So yay for South Carolina!

June Goals

I can't believe June is halfway over. It helps that I was in beautiful South Carolina for two weeks of family and school. Oh, how I love the South. But more on that later!

I don't have many goals for June, since it's almost over. But here are the ones I do have:
-Design our kitchen reno (soooooooooo excited about that!)
-Read and write a paper for one book for school (I have no assignments due till August 18th, but I want to get ahead as much as possible ... in fact, I've already got 2 creative assignments mostly completed!)
-Finish my YA fantasy book (yay!!!!!!). I can't believe I'll be able to say I've written a book. It's surreal.
-Ride my bike to work every nice day in June. I failed horribly at this in May. Kurt surprised me with a helmet and bike gloves of my very own, so I have no excuse! Well, other than hating the waking up at 5:30 part.

I'm going to start a recap of my goals at the end of every month, stating whether I fulfilled them or not. Need to have some accountability.

PS--We named our second dog (who escaped for 4 days!). Her name is ... Ruby! We love her so much! She's fat and has a little head and is very sweet.

PPS--It's PPS right? Not PSS? Anywho! I just wanted to say that I'm on day two of my new med and so far so good. I'm very hopeful that this is a permanent change.

PPPS--Pray that I find my glasses! DOH!  Nevermind, I found them!