birthday boy

(Our camera takes horrible pictures, this is so dark!)

We celebrated Nate's 26th birthday on Friday, it was a little stressful, and a lot of fun!

Stressful because I decided to make dinner (which I RARELY do) and a cake, and didn't really have time to complete them both, let alone clean the house, wrap his gifts (one of which didn't get here until today), write him a thoughtful birthday card, or study for my finals...

Fun because he really liked the Clam Chowder (and so did I, minus the clams), the cake looked pretty nice, even though it wasn't the best, he was surprised/excited with the backpacking hammock I got him, and we got to go see the movie Hanna with his parents. ...and because he's just a good husband and even though he doesn't normally fold the laundry or make the bed, he did both of those things because he knew I had really wanted to get them done before he got home... it made me feel really guilty for a minute, but then I just decided it's okay that he is the sweetest husband I could ever ask for!

We're getting excited to go camping soon!! His new backpack came today, so hopefully we'll be off to break it in soon too!

27.

Well, I turned 27 yesterday. It doesn't feel too much different... if I don't think about it. To be honest, after 25, birthdays haven't been the same and I don't expect they ever will. Nothing to worry too much about, it's just kind of weird sometimes. :) Lately I have found myself wondering what age people that don't know would guess that I am, if I ever dress like I'm trying to look younger than I am, or if I'm having an early mid-life crisis worry about lame stuff like that.

It's funny though, I feel like I am still 23, until I think about all that has happened since I turned 23... I married my favorite person in the world, got a job that I have thoroughly enjoyed, made friends I hope I'll always have, taken a break from school to make a decision, made the decision, started school again, we bought a house, we got a dog, I lead the music in primary for a year (and LOVED it), am now serving in the primary presidency, we went to San Francisco, Havasupai, Portland, Georgia, and Kauai, sold my little gray civic, we got a Tacoma, and another scooter, among many other things.

I'm so grateful to be where I am and excited about what the future holds.

ps... Nate made me a delicious dinner of tortellini soup, got some yummy cup cakes from Temptation Cupcake, let me choose a chic flick (which is big for him) :), and got me a cute shirt and some much needed shoes. I love that guy. Thanks Nate for a fun b-day!

happy birthday.

my mom is one of the most selfless people i know, never talks bad about anyone, would do anything for her family, friends, patients, coworkers, or probably even a stranger... i have always admired that.
happy birthday mom, i love you.

Homemade Root Beer

It was a very special weekend... so much that we got to have homemade root beer TWICE!! I haven't had the stuff since I was little, and for some odd reason it reminds me of the ward parties with the Brigham City 4th ward!

The first event was a birthday party/camping trip with my family for my dad's 60th birthday!! Here he is after a full day frying on the beach of Bear Lake on Friday, sleeping in a tent with a group of 26 Friday night (not all of which spent the night, but it was a big group none the less), and then back to the beach on Saturday...

He was just a little tuckered out from all the fun.

'Munga' was too... But who could blame them after all this fun!!

We all had a lot of fun! Saturday after Bear Lake, all the adults got to go to dinner at Cafe Sabor and then to the temple. Always fun to do with family.

The second event of the weekend we weren't totally prepared for... so we ended up making the root beer just before we left for the birthday dinner for Nate's mom, Joy. Here we are in the car enjoying the root beer fumes!
Grandma Joy is so nice to let Hallie help open her presents...

We're both so blessed to have such great parents and families. We really had a great weekend, and I think we had enough sugar to last us at least through another month!