So, there's this guy....

I've finally returned. I have a really great excuse for neglecting my blog though! This is it....



Yep, it's all HIS fault! Meet Jake. Jake Bourne. He's my boyfriend. :) How did I snag this amazing guy? I'm still not quite sure, but who cares! He's mine! I am so lucky! Jake is incredible. He's 23 (a youngin'...I've got him beat by 13 months), from Tremonton, and is studying civil engineering at Utah State. He loves sports, especially basketball. I've never seen him play but he claims he's better at it than softball, so I'm guessing he's pretty good. It helps that he's 6'4''. Yep.... that's right, 6' 4'' :). He has got to be the most patient man I've ever met (except when it comes to sports, so pretty much we're perfect for each other in that). Jake is a ridiculously hard worker, but he knows how to have fun. We laugh all the time! In a nutshell...he's wonderful.



For those of you who want to know the story, here it is: Back in the beginning of summer, I found this random group that plays softball on Saturday mornings. So, I showed up one day and it was a blast. I love softball! It's great for so many things...including meeting the man of my dreams! ;) haha...no seriously, I met Jake that first day. We flirted a bunch and were strategizing with each other as we played. He's amazing at softball, btw. I didn't see him for another couple weeks until he and I both randomly ended up at sand volleyball one night. Again...more flirting. I still didn't think I'd ever see him again, because I missed softball one week and then he didn't show up the next week, but fortuntately, we both connected up again. I decided to invite him to play on my softball team that I put together this summer (nevermind the fact that I already had enough guys). Well, when he went to leave that day, he grabbed my phone off the bench and put his number in it (and called his phone with mine, come to find out later). I got up the guts to invite him to fireworks the weekend of the fourth, but he was out of town visiting family. We began texting a bunch and the next week we went for a long walk one night, played volleyball together a couple nights, he came to watch my softball game even though we didn't need him to play that night. He took me to see Guys and Dolls for our first official date that weekend. I'd say we've been with each other almost every day since, except for when I went home to visit family. We've done just about everything together lately. Here's just some of the great times we've had:

walks on the Bonneville shoreline trail
hiking to Jardine Juniper
softball, softball, and more softball!
volleyball and racquetball
Tremonton fair
Preston night rodeo
Bear Lake beach with Chelsea
Bee's baseball game in SLC with his mom :)
watching movies
baking and/or cooking
he taught me to weed whack
Labor day weekend with his dad's family at their cabin and house
visiting his nana and her puppies and crocheting with his mom
dinner and games with my sister and her family
USU football game
"Cleaning the sink" at Angie's
putting together a crazy hard puzzle
studying (unfortunately this is what we do more than anything these days)
institute
....just to name a few! :)



As you can see, I'm pretty happy! :)

Hike of Doom

I have been pretty busy with stats lately so I've been bad at keeping my blog updated, so forgive me for going back and catching up on the events of the last month in multiple, but (hopefully) short posts.

My good buddy, Derek Sharp and I decided to go on a hike a few weeks ago. I had homework to do so it was supposed to be a short hike, maybe a couple hours...little did I know, anything that could go wrong, would go wrong that day! First off, we got to Green canyon to park and there were hundred and hundreds of SHEEP milling around! My theory now is that the sheep were a bad omen, which we clearly ignored.


I'm sorry, but I love this paw print from Koda trying to jump on my legs. Also, notice that I'm rockin' an awesome pair of chacos!

Shortly up the trail, I started not feeling well too, which made the hike all the more fun. Oh well. Despite the discomfort, the trip up was beautiful. I took a ton of pictures of wildflowers that were blooming everywhere!





Once we got to the top, we suddenly attacked by a swarm of flesh eating mosquitos! I think our rush to get away from them clouded our judgment, because we decided to hike down the other side of the mountain into Logan canyon for a bit to see if we could connect up with the wind caves. The thing is, Green canyon is fairly shaded....Logan canyon is not. It was 97 degrees that day...the hottest day of the year to date. In case you were wondering, two bottles of water for two people and three dogs is not enough. We hiked down for about a half hour, thinking that around each corner or switchback, surely we would see the wind caves. We had to have been close! Alas, the heat and the time became such that we had no choice but to turn around and go back to the top. As you can see, we were not happy about it.

I had no idea how hard that would be! It took us over an hour to get back up! Water ran out just as we started up again and it was sweltering. If it hadn't been for Derek's patience and the power of prayer, there is no way I would have survived. Between the climb, the heat, and the lack of water, my body was shutting down. I could barely put one foot in front of the other. Honestly, I don't know if I've ever been in a more life-threatening position. It was a definite reminder that while hiking is fun, it can be dangerous and that it's important to respect nature and prepare for it!

Mercifully, we made it back up to the top of the mountain, where I was ready to collapse. Two seconds sitting down though, and the savage mosquitos were attacking worse than before, so we just decided to keep going....down, thankfully. Once back on the other side of the mountain, we were mostly back in the shade and going down, so I wasn't nearly as scared, but it was another hour or so hiking down before we got water. I didn't care about anything on the way down. I didn't care about the pretty wildflowers, the beautiful view, and I was trying not to care about the giant blisters that were forming on my feet because I decided to wear my chacos on a hike for the first time. Of course, we had to fight our way through a herd of sheep again, and then walk another mile or so after the trail ended before the water fountain. This poor camper guy was trying to wash out a basin or something and we came up to the fountain and seriously gorged ourselves on water for at least 10 minutes. The dogs collapsed in the run off water. I have never been more grateful to be done with a hike in my life...and I'm pretty sure that even includes the time I spent 12 hours on Mt. Timp!

Just went in for an oil change....

About three weeks ago, I went in to get an oil change for my car and the inspections done for registration. Not a big deal. Well, I parked my car in the line outside the service garage, then took my keys in and on the way back outside, I watched in horror as a huge suburban backed into the side of my car! UH.........yeah. I was completely dumbfounded. I saw it happening, but my brain didn't fire fast enough to realize what was going on! Anyway, here's the damage:




It was a messy situation too because the people who did it didn't have their insurance card with them so they didn't want to get the cops involved, but I also didn't want them to pull a fast one on me. Fortunately, I didn't freak out like I pictured myself doing in such a situation, we got insurance information and $1400 worth of damage and a week with a rental car later, my car is as good as new. At least I was there when it happened this time! My old car, good ol' Snoopy, got hit two different times while parked, and no one had the courtesy to leave a note or anything. People...sheesh!

The adventures of Suzie Home-maker

I think the title of this post sums up my last few weeks pretty well. I have been busy busy busy...for not being busy at all that is. In order to not be a complete waste of space, I've been working on a few projects. First, I borrowed my sister's sewing machine and decided to finally finish a hobo bag that I started to make a year ago in Relief Society. I'm quite happy with how it turned out and very proud of myself for putting it together with no instructions! Here it is!



I've also been tinkering around with more painting. I did this flower:



I like it alright, but it's probably the least favorite of the paintings I've done. Then, I bought some acrylics and canvas and decided to get serious about this little painting hobby and this is the last painting I completed:



I had no idea I could do that and I probably won't be able to do it again, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. Best of all, I got to send it to my daddy for Father's Day. Growing up, he was always doing wood-burning, carving, and craft painting projects. I think I got the my inclination for art from him, so it felt great to give the painting to him. Being Father's Day, I'll keep it brief, but I want to say how blessed I am to have such an incredible dad. He is such a good and stalwart man. We may have butted heads a lot when I was growing up, but I'm so thankful for everything he taught me and how he always pushed me to grow and be better. He expects a lot from me, but I'm beginning to understand that it's only because he sees my true potential and he loves me so much. Happy Father's Day, Daddy! I love you!

So, between the painting and sewing (I have more projects in the works) AND making three batches of homemade fruit jam, I've felt very suzie home-maker lately. Oh yeah, AND I made my sister a chocolate cake, complete with icing from scratch!



On the flip side, I've also had a few awesome adventures. Last week, Aimee, Derek and I took a trip to a tree fort that a guy built up Logan Canyon. I can't give the exact location away or I would have to kill all of you. Anyway, that has got to be the coolest tree fort ever! It isn't that far out of the way, but you feel totally secluded. You do have to cross a marsh to get to the tree, which is completely surrounded by water right now, but it's worth it. The guy is a genius! He has a big area where he's going to make a platform, and then he has placed logs connecting to different trees and even has handrails to get from place to place! Bottom line, AWESOME. We had ourselves a nice picnic lunch and enjoyed a peaceful afternoon in the trees. It was great and of course, here are pictures!






Then, that night, despite the colder temperatures, I went boating with some friends. I was just along for the ride originally, but I got peer-pressured into wakeboarding. I had never been wakeboarding before, but I have tried wake surfing once...unsuccessfully, I might add. So, I braved the ice cold water, and after 4 or 5 tries, I actually managed to get up! I was so excited!! I got up twice, not for very long each time, but it was pretty awesome. AND...yep...here are the pictures! (sorry they're blurry)

This is Aimee's amazing crash. LOVE it!



Quick lesson



Ready or not!



A wipe-out or 2 (or 4)



And FINALLY, I made it up! Woot! I know my form is pretty terrible, and yes, I biffed it about 5 seconds later, but I don't care...I got up!



Last, but certainly not least, Derek ran the Wasatch Back race this weekend, so I got to puppy sit for him! YAY! I was in heaven. This is Koda. (I can't tell whose eyes are crazier! haha)



Amazingly enough, he and Riley got along pretty well. Riley even took to protecting Koda from Carlye's dogs and even Natalie! Koda was a good cuddler...and decided to sleep laying across my neck! Too cute! I have to keep telling myself that I shouldn't get another puppy right now....but it's SO tempting! Here's Riley and Koda being friends....awwww.




Alas, my completely free days are behind me. Stats started this week and I'm already behind because I have NO desire to study or do the homework, but I'll get it together. I just want to survive the next eight weeks and never think about it again.

Well, that's it for my adventures. I hope you enjoyed! I know I sure did!

I want this job!!!

Okay, so seriously, the most PERFECT job just became available on the 8th...only a day and a half ago and I just found it tonight and I'm FREAKING OUT. I swear jobs get posted and they are filled within hours, but I want this SO BAD. It's perfect!!! Only 16 weeks, so it would overlap just a little bit with school and my assistantship in the fall, and it's 15 hours a week, flexible schedule. Best of all, it's a health promotion position at Bear River Health Department! I WANT THAT EXPERIENCE!!!! Okay, sorry, I'm supposed to be sleeping, but I just found it and had to apply immediately and now I am completely nervous and wired just thinking about it but I know I won't get a response till morning! UGH! Okay rant over. Hoepfully I can sleep and hopefully I get the job....

Memorial Day Hike--Crimson Trail

Last Monday, Memorial day, I went on a hike with some friends on the Crimson trail up Logan canyon. Basically, it's about 30 min. of hard hiking, then you walk along a beautiful, easy trail...only feet away from the edge of a cliff they call the "china wall." It was beautiful, but scary! The first picture shows the cliffs we hiked along (taken from the hike I did a few weeks ago).

This is looking over the cliff edge from the trail. You definitely don't get the full effect. Needless to say, this hike is NOT for those who are afraid of heights!

Beautiful view looking through the canyon toward Logan

Me, Dru and Natalie. I'm only standing so incredibly awkwardly because I have Riley's leash tied around my ankle. I didn't want him exploring and taking a 200 foot (ish) fall.

Dru, Natalie, and Matt enjoying a sack lunch on a flat rock, overlooking the edge.

On the way back, I took pictures of pretty wildflowers and stopped to dangle my feet in the ice cold river. I think my friends may have gotten a bit annoyed, but they were patient with me. Thanks guys! It was beautiful and I was just in the mood to soak it all in. I love hiking. I hope to do a lot more this summer. Next: Jardine Juniper.

Keepin' Busy

Despite having no job, no classes, and essentially no responsibilities these days, I'm doing my best to keep busy. In order to avoid feeling completely worthless, I'm trying to give myself little projects and goals. So far, I've been riding my new exercise bike almost every day. I have some books I plan to read, mostly while on the bike of course. The day before yesterday, I went to the temple, which I hope to do more often now that I have so much spare time.

I've played softball, volleyball and racquetball this past week...which makes me very happy. Even more exciting is the fact that I think I'm finally about through this latest bout with SI joint pain. The past month or two has been really bad. Almost every morning, I would wake up completely stiff and wondering where the pain would settle in that day. I even had a couple nights where I couldn't go to sleep because laying down hurt so bad and I would wake up in the middle of the night. One night at vollyeball, I was hurting so bad and got so discouraged I decided to go ask the bishop for a blessing because he was in the building. First off, let me just say, I have NO doubt in the power of the priesthood. I had barely said anything to the bishop about what was going on, not only with my SI joints, but also in the rest of my life, but when he gave me that blessing, I KNOW he was receiving the words I needed to hear. I'm not going to go into detail about the blessing itself, but it gave me a lot to think about. I've spent a lot of time pondering on it. I was reminded that we need to be grateful for the trials in our lives and not be so quick to ask Heavenly Father to remove every little discomfort from our lives and that they serve a purpose. We grow through trials and without them, we cannot reach our divine potential. I am so thankful for the restored priesthood and the gospel in my life. I am thankful to know that I am not alone and that the Lord knows and is involved in every part of my life.

I've also been trying to spend a lot more time over at my sister's place, helping her with the kids. I took Nadia and Dallion to the park one day....which was an interesting experience to say the least. A few days ago, I got to take Nadia to the park alone. She is such a precious little girl. She LOVES to run! We were climbing all over that playground and she definitely had her Aunt Becky working hard to keep up with her. On the way home, though, she was so tired, she wrapped her arms around my hand and leaned her head against my arm till I offered to carry her home. It was adorable. I love that little girl SO much. I love all of my nieces and nephews. They al tug at my heart in separate distinct ways, but Nadia....she's my little girl. She was the first niece and she definitely stole my heart. I can't believe it, but Nadia turned FOUR last weekend. For her birthday, a friend of mine who owns some horses let her come ride them. Nadia LOVES horses, so I think she had a great time, but I could tell she was intimidated by their size.

A couple other things that have kept me busy: hiking and painting. I'm really excited to have time to do these two things this summer. Yesterday, Natalie, Aimee and I hiked the wind cave/Naomi trail from Green canyon. It was beautiful! Riley came along, of course. He's such a trooper. I don't think he even got tired. I sure was, though! I was feeling pretty good yesterday and even played volleyball last night, but this morning, I am sure feeling it. I love hiking because it's such a great workout, the scenery and nature is breath-taking and it gives me a HUGE sense of accomplishment. And then painting--I finally finished a small craft project this week that I've been meaning to do for months. It's not that big of a deal...just a couple wooden words I painted to decorate the bathroom, but I quite like how they turned out. I'm really excited to do a lot more painting though. I'd love to get really good at it. I've done a couple pictures, but mostly I like to craft paint. It's so relaxing. I've got a couple paintings in mind that I want to do, so I think I'm going to hit up the craft store today to get started.

Well, thanks for putting up with yet another long blog! Here's a few pics from this week for you to enjoy!