Pleasant Creek

We LOVE to go on weekend trips. In the summer we will be gone any weekend we can. However, we are in the nursery in our ward and need to make it back in time for Sunday mornings to watch all the cute little kiddos. Russ's dad was seriously born in the wrong era. He loves to be out on his horse in the middle of nowhere. They have a picture of his dad riding a horse and shooting a buffalo with a bow and arrow. Intense. He likes to take people out on big horse back riding trips and we were invited last minute last weekend. His dad was going to take a man that is terminally ill from Cancer out on a trip. Unfortunately his health turned for the worse and his dad had already bought all the food and packed all the horse. Russ told me Friday morning we had been invited on a horseback riding trip and he really wanted to go. So I went to work and came home, showered and packed. I asked him where we were going and how long it would take us. We were going near Lake Powell!! Come again? We are going to drive 4+ hours and its like 7 pm? I wasnt expecting that one, but it was great! We bought a little car that would could just put tons and tons of miles on for road trips so why not? We drove down there and by the time we got there it was 1 am. Russ does not do well driving late at night. He falls asleep super easy, and I dont do well driving when I dont know where in the heck I am going. So as tired as I was I fought to stay awake so Russ wouldn't fall asleep. We found the camp where all the guys were of course sleeping and drove down the road to blow up our air mattress. Russ found this pump for the air mattress that was like $1 and its no wonder..its seriously as loud as a jet flying overhead. On the side of the road in the middle of nowhere blowing up our air mattress
We didnt have anything to tie it to, so we just threw it on top of the car and he had one hand out the window holding one end and I had my hand out the window holding the other
We pulled into camp and found a spot. The sand was SO soft, and our camp was right next to a creek. The best part is..it was still like 75 degrees. PERFECT for camping. The next morning came really early but his dad had cooked an amazing breakfast in the dutch oven and we got all ready to load up the horses. **Quick Story: I didnt grow up riding horses. I have by far been on more horse rides in the few short years of being with Russ then my whole life combined. When I was first meeting Russ's family, he invited me camping with his family. We again got there really late and some were already asleep and some werent coming until the next morning. His dad woke us up really early the next morning and asked us if we wanted to go for a quick ride before breakfast. We literally went from our sleeping bags on to a horse in minutes...only, my horse wasnt a horse, it was a mule named Ingersol. After a few hours (not a short ride at all) we came riding back into camp, more people had driven in, breakfast had already been eaten and I come strolling into camp riding a donkey in my pajamas. Not how I had imagined my first time meeting people, but still cracks me up to this day. Back to last weekend. I got the pleasure of riding Ingersol the mule again. I didnt know any of the gentleman we were with, but I can tell you they are all legit cowboys. They were literally taking pictures of what I was wearing. I loved the soft sand, so I was wearing my flip flops and they were like...are you riding the horses in those? No, you silly cowboys. There were a couple of slick rock areas on the horses that made me tense up a bit, but it was fun! Russ's dad decided to take a nap in some shade, so he put me on his horse and Ingersol just followed behind like a little puppy. We had a really pretty ride along a creek. We also got to ride up to some petroglyphs. I dont love a lot of things about the dessert. Just really isnt my scene. But I do love cactus and how in the middle of dry land, a pretty flower can pop up! Would you take a look at this hot cowboy? I think he is dead sexy on a horse. It was actually a really pretty ride. It was super hot, so it was nice being able to ride along the creek. Russ's horse like to play in the water so I would walk my horse next to him and get a little cool down. That is a legit cowboy behind us. Im sure he thought I was something else. This is my nice father in law helping me with my stirrups (I learned a lot of lingo out there). Thanks for the invite Lee! And that is Ingersol in the corner. He's pretty awesome. I will give $5 to the person who can pick out my shoes first. I told the cowboys I wasnt wearing my flipflops for a horse ride, I wore my converse!

Flashback!

I recently found this picture while cleaning out some files on my computer. This picture was taken almost 9 years ago! We were going to a "Butt Rock" concert while we were attending Utah State. At the time there was this guy up there I had met a couple of times that I thought was loads of fun. Turns out he was meant to be my husband.
It also turns out that he can ROCK a midriff, mustache, and gold chain.
I love you Russell, you still make me laugh this hard every day.
And yes, that really is Russ.
How did I get so lucky?

Memorial Day- Heise Style!

Its hard to believe a whole year ago Russ and I were driving down the coast after an amazing time in Canada. This year, for Memorial day, we were going to go to Washington DC to visit his brothers family but it didnt pan out. So we visited my brother in ID-HO. Have I mentioned how much I love it up there? I would have NEVER thought I would want to go to Idaho for vacation. But its fantastic! They live in a beautiful, fun little area and we love going up there. It was a very cold weekend and I was not packed accordingly. We got there late Friday night and the next morning, Russ and Cody woke up early to go Bear hunting. I got to hang out with the kids and Kam and my niece is really into making bracelets out of string. So we made lots of bracelets while waiting for the boys. When the boys got back they humored me with a scavenger hunt I had put together. I dont know why, but Ive been craving a scavenger hunt :) So the girls all got in my car, and the boys all got in my brother Cody's truck and each team had a list of all the same things we had to do or take pictures of. We had exactly 1 hr to complete the whole list and be to Chinese restaurant where we were going to have dinner and take a look of everything and determine a winner. The entire time we were doing our scavenger hunt it was pouring rain, which added a whole new element to it. We had to do things like: Fill up a certain amount of gas and every cent you went over you had to deduct a pt. Find a gumball machine and take a picture of the team blowing a bubble. Does anyone else have the new Iphone4s and have your pictures upside down like mine???? Drives me bonkers. Nothing I do can make these ride side up. Any one else having the same problem?? Here are a few very cute and very upside down pictures. Find a picture of graffiti *Do a Chinese fire drill *Take a picture with a stranger (Russ cheated) And a whole list of other things. The winning team had to buy the other team ice cream. We actually drove into the Chinese restaurant with 2 min to spare at the same time and raced to be in first. Between the boys have more boys in the bubble blowing picture and Russ cheating with taking a picture with a stranger we tied. We still had ice cream though! If you couldnt tell from the puffy coat, I was FREEZING. Team Black Bears Team Cheetah's! Or as Kinley liked to say, Team Cheaters! We went to Jackson Hole the next day and it was snowing!! Kel wanted Russ do to his hair that morning just like his. It was so cold. We stopped for pizza in town and looked for a camping spot for when we come back this summer and headed back. Kel got a BB gun and Im pretty sure we adults had more fun shooting it then he did. Russ and Cody tried their hardest to help me shoot something. Kam and the kids Instagram'n it in Idaho That night we spent most of the evening warming up in the Heise Hot springs. Felt SO good after being cold all day. The next morning we took Kel to a little fishing spot to try out his new fishing pole. Before I get to that story, did I mention we took our kitten with us? Yep, when you want to road trip it and you have a new kitten, you have no other choice but to take the kitten. She actually did really well in the car and the kids LOVED her. Kel got his new pole and he would practice his cast and the kitten would chase it and he would reel it in and they would start all over. He was so excited to go fishing and by the time we got there he didnt care any more. He was down stream throwing rocks into the water and looking at spiders while Russ and I fished with a tiny little 4 yr olds pole. It was fun. Thanks for letting us play with your BB gun and fishing pole Kel. Kinley and Cody stuck with the fishing though. Thanks Kemp family for a very fun weekend and for all the delicious food you treated us to. Kam, you're a stellar cook.

Backyard BBQ

We had our first little BBQ in the backyard with some friends the other day. Em was in town from Seattle..that is always reason to celebrate. Plus, we got to use our new patio set! Isn't he so strong?? If you notice a big pee stain down the front of Russ's shirt throughout the night, don't be alarmed. I had a melon scentsy burning in the bathroom and he decided to dump it all down the front of him, down the wall and all over our bathroom floor 5 minutes before our guest arrived. Its not easy scraping cooled wax off a wall. The Brady's made an appearance with little Boston. Their kids seriously have the most hair of anyone I know. This little guy is tiny and has already had a few haircuts. Sher introduced me to Suddenly Pasta. I had never heard of it and think its pretty fantastic you can have a pasta dish in like 10 min for $2.00. We had dinner (ran out of hot dogs...not one of my better party hosting moments. But Russ is THAT good at BBQ'ing a hot dog they flew off the grill)and sat around the fire for some Smores! Garr Fam Joy and her baby (loved this lil guy) A fire pit isn't a fire pit with out my girl Ecko. I miss this girl. She is the kind of friend that is always up for anything and can make anything you are doing fun. I miss having her around and going to movies with her (she can see the same movie like 5 times in a theater). Always a good time. Thanks for sharing your short time here with us. Wait..that sounded like you died. Thanks for sharing your short weekend in Utah while visiting for your sisters wedding with us..better. Seattle is awfully lucky to have you Em. Next time you come Ill buy more hot dogs.

Thank you for this day.

My adorable 4 year old nephew was playing with my phone this weekend. Isnt it amazing how little kids know how to use smart phones?? Even my 1 yr old nephew was thumbing through my photos! Anyway, my nephew Kel was looking through my pictures and said the sweetest/funniest thing:
Kel: Ahhh, she is saying a prayer!
Kel:(imitating our kitten) Dear Heavenly Fodder, thank you for dis day...
I asked him to show me what he was looking at and sure enough, it does look like she is saying a prayer!

I love kids.
Thats a lot sweeter then what the picture actually was.
Griffin fell asleep on my lap and she was like a total gumby. I was moving her hands and legs all over the place and she wouldnt budge. In this particular "praying" pose, I was actually making her rap to the Fresh Prince of Bell Air.
I think Kels idea of the picture is much better.

I Run for Hope

We had a really fun time at the Race for the Cure again. Its always a fun time to get out, do some exercises while raising money for a good cause. Our family, and our team had a lot going on this year. They all signed up and donated but opted to go to breakfast and do a "cheers" to the race for the cure. Russ, Heidi and I decided to still attend. And we were glad we did!! Before you start the race you can put if you are running in celebration of someone that had survived the terrible disease, or you could run in memory of someone who lost their life to breast cancer. Russ and I ran in memory of my Gram.

Heidi was also running in memory of her friend, she just wrote it on the wrong side :)

I love every year seeing all the creative names people come up with. And its always so great to see Survivors walking with their friends and families. The ladies always love Russ.

Nothing starts a 5K off like a good stretch.

It was so fun to have Heidi there with us this year. She is always such a good friend and willing to support you in whatever you do. Running through the cheer tunnel...

Heids, thanks again for joining us! Its always a good time with you around, and you are always so good at taking pictures. Thanks for sharing.

And Im really sorry again about the dang parking ticket. Dont you think when there is a big event, like 16,000 people going on down town, especially a fundraiser that the city would be a titch more understanding when you are there for less than 2 hrs? Always out to make a buck right?

Hard Work- Dedication

We love watching The Biggest Loser. I love when Dolvette yells at his team.."Hard work! Dedication!". Russ has worked so hard around our yard to make it fun for summer bbqs!

I cant believe how much I dislike yard work. Im not a girly girly I would say, but I do NOT like bugs. Especially snakes and spiders and our yard has both. Creeps me right out. But Russ has been doing a fantastic job at weeding, cleaning things up nicely, and attempting at a garden. I just only wish something would grow. Im really good at mowing the lawn though! I help...a little. We hung some really cute lights in our back yard.

Our fire pit is all set up in the back, and ready for a full summer of mallows. We even broke out the hammock. There is nothing better then laying out on a summer night watching life flight fly directly above your house (We live across the street from a busy hospital). But hey! If we are ever in need of medical attention I could wave my arms as they pass or walk there in a jiff.

We bought a new patio set for our first summer together as a MR & MRS. Its bright, comfy and currently covered in bird poop. Darn those birds! Bring on the summer BBQs!