the last 2 weeks in snap shots.

Life is busy. Like the busiest it has ever been.(and hopefully ever will be!)  I'm working 53 hours a week + taking my LAST 15 credits so you can guess it is pretty insane. Let's just say when the weekend rolls around I just want to be HOME! (not that that ever happens). Ha oh well. I'm trying to enjoy these last few months of my college career but oh my gosh I will be SO GLAD WHEN IT'S OVER. I can't imagine what it will be like to actually have FREE TIME!! No quizzes to take over the weekend or what it will be like to actually have dinner at 6:30 with Nate. I am so excited! I know it will totally be worth it but right now it's kinda rough. Anywayzzzz just trying to keep that positive perspective ;) Here are a few snapshots of our last 2 weeks. 

Spiral Jetty on V-Day. So much better than chocolate and roses in my opinion. 

Me: "I'll kiss your cheek then you take a selfie" so original. 

I mean that view though. 

Sorry--I had to. 

Wait. you don't take pictures of your biceps in class when you're the only one there? Weird. 

Saturday. All alone at the gym. Just the way I like it. 

He's kinda a punk. But don't worry-- in the marble family the middle finger is a sign of endearment. ;) 

They kinda have fun together. 

That look he gives me like: "Who the heck are you and why do you make such weird faces??" haha

Never too young for a little downward dog. 

Totally worth the 1 hour wait. 

Rodeo Fun!

Front row and all. 

Look at that cute pink cowgirl hat! I told Nate when we have a babe that will be a necessity. 

Oh and I found a quote the other day that I thought was probably written for me. Probably.

>> "My heart sways back and forth between the need for routine and the urge to run." <<

That pretty much sums it up. 

viva las vegas

Last weeks timeline
Wednesday
3pm: text Nate telling him we should do somthing fun this weekend.
5pm: Nate texts  back and tells me it will be 80 degrees in Vegas

Thursday
7pm: teach a budgeting class and talk about how stupid impulse buys are.
9pm: Book a hotel (don't worry we got a KILLER deal) and pack our bags!!! 

Friday
7am: Head south in the trusty Nissan
2pm: arrive in VEGAS!
2:10pm: in our swimsuits at the POOL.It was 80 degrees and BEAUTIFUL!

That's how fast it all happened. It's kinda a rough life to marry someone who is spontaneous because when you come up with a ridiculous idea they just can't turn you down.. ;) I think all vacations should be like this.
no Stress. in the sun. with the love of your life.
Now when can we go back???

I told Nate I would drive for a few hours--he passed out and I sang at the top of my lungs. 

Believe it or not this was our VERY first time at SWIG. oh my heck those cookies really are to die for.

A little handstand going on in one of the busiest hallways in MGM. Don't worry this was at 7 in the morning and there was literally not a SOUL in sight.. So I took full advantage. 

Vacations with him are so dang FUN.

Nate's birthday was Saturday and he realllly wanted to go to the mob museum. (nerd alert) But it ended up being AWESOME. and He's worth going to a museum for. 

Our room had a balcony with the prettiest view of the city. 

Typical vulnerable tourist photo. 

Pano view from our balcony.

mob museum fun. 

of course we saw this sign on Nate's birthday. and of course I made him get a picture with it.Ha! 

New York, New York. 

that HOT sun was exactly what I needed to clear my wintertime blues. 

This picture pretty much sums it up.

I love Nate. I love weekend getaways. I love our life. 

stuff

Wow. It's January 22nd and I am finally getting around to updating this ol' thing. Slacker right here. But whatever. The idea of going back and documenting all of December just overwhelms the heck out of me so I'm just highlighting a few important points.

+We had the best month of December. Plenty of shopping, decorating, baking, walking up and down main to see the lights. It was wonderful and perfect and I was sad to see it end.

+Nate spoiled me on Christmas. and so did both of our parents. I got plenty of clothes, workout gear, COWGIRL BOOTS, & a pistol BB gun, from my love. Nate's parent's got me .22 rifle. (that's a gun for anyone who is as clueless as I was) and my parents announced that they are taking the WHOLE FAM DAM to the happiest place on earth!! Oh my gosh April can't get here fast enough.

+ The day after Christmas we headed up to the cabin and didn't come home until New Years Day. It was probably one of my favorite weeks. We went sledding on some pretty sketchy/steep hills, played tons of games, sang our hearts out, (ha!) and LAUGHED until my stomach HURT. It was the best.

+Nate's semi motor blew the week before Christmas.. That was rough. Luckily we got it fixed and back running quickly so we can pay off that huge bill. Semis are too expensive but I'm glad Nate likes what he does.

+I started my internship and I really like it. I just don't like the 12 hour days as much. Yeah, not my fav. But I'll do what I have to to be able to have that diploma in my hand by May!

+I am loving Cross fit more than ever. I sacrifice my sleep every morning so I can go to the early class.I'd be lying if I said it isn't a struggle getting out of bed. But once I'm there I am SO glad to be there that I never think twice about it. I LOVE it. It is my escape and my therapy and this is totally a "toolish" thing to say but my dead lift is 215 pounds and I am pretty dang proud. #humblebrag  HA!

+Nate has been my rock the past couple of weeks. I have been stressed/busy to the max and he is so good to always make sure I know he's got my back. Sometimes I get these guilty feelings because I'm only home one time during the week to make dinner. The rest of the time he's in charge. I get home late and I'm tired and it's hard because I feel like I'm the wife and I should be doing all those wifely duties and it makes me feel bad that I can't right now.  But he has really stepped up and taken the reins and SUPPORTS me 100%.

okay wow. Sorry that was a lot to get out. One last thing..

+My word for this year is FOCUS

I want to focus on 

my dreams

my husband

my relationships 

my knowledge of the gospel

my career goals 

my health and fitness

being kind

having fun

enjoying the ride.

becoming who I need to be. 

And lastly, here are some totally random photos on my phone. I took all the Christmas photos with my camera and ain't nobody got time for uploading pictures if you know what I mean! So the funny snap shots will have to do for now.  xoxo

I kinda like him 

these 3 troublemakers

that babe though. HE is the reason I wouldn't mind having a baby to take care of

This is my cute little work space at my internship. It's on the top floor of the courthouse so sometimes I just catch myself staring out the windows. oops. And unfortunately they don't provide the protein shakes.. I have to bring those from home. (but how could would that be if they did??)

This is my favorite. notice the 20 lb. baby Jesus who can almost sit up by himself. Love that crazy fam of mine! 

very photogenic..

These fine ladies our my favs. We laughed so hard on the sledding mountain I almost peed my snow pants.

this is how Nate handles after Christmas shopping. 

We got to babysit this cute girl and her sweet sister overnight last weekend. Of course they melted me. Saturday afternoon Navy and I watched a movie and of course she fell asleep. It was so adorable until she started tooting and I couldn't move because it would wake her. ha ha that mom biz is tough work! 

Isn't she the coolest mom?

No words just adorable. 

If you've never spent the holiday break in a beautiful cabin in a snow filled valley with your crazy/hilarious/bizarre family. I would HIGHLY recommend it. 

the week before finals in 3 snap shots

All I Can say is I survived this week and I think the worst is over. Hallelujah. 

I haven't been home to make dinner once this week. 

I'm stressed to my maxx.

I have a few new zits on my chin to prove it. (tmi?)

I've worn a hat almost every day. Looking a little like a hobo.

I accidentally wore my moccasins to work yesterday.

I.am.a.case. 

our thanksgivin'

Thanksgiving was the best this year. I loved every minute of it. I woke up bright and early to head to Cross-Fit because let's face it, I kinda like that place. Then Nate and I ran all around the park and practiced sprints to make up for the loads and loads of turkey we would later be consuming. Totally worth it. We ate dinner with Nate's fam who I just love more and more everyday. Everything tasted delicious and instead of taking a nap after stuffing our faces everyone headed out to the gun range. (aka the backyard) perks of living in West Corinne I guess. ha ha  We had such a blast and I have even improved on my shooting skills!! big deal. So naturally, Nate thinks I need my OWN for Christmas. Um I think I'm more of a new clothes girl than a new gun girl but we'll see what he decides. 

Thanksgiving night we got to go over to my parents and eat pie and play with the fam. It was such a perfect day I never wanted it to end. 

 Um how do I work this thing again?? 

Thanksgiving Eve shoppin with my favorite side kick. It was CRAY-ZY.

Our little apartment is looking quite cozy and I love it. Even if we still haven't gotten around to decorating the tree. 

These marks are from  my jump rope whipping me this morning. multiple times. I.HATE.DOUBLE-UNDERS. 

Now it's back to real life and I'm telling you this week has already been a whirlwind. Yesterday I didn't get home until 9:30 at night (after being gone all day) I was literally pooped. Like I'm talking too tired to even pick out cowgirl boots that Nate so graciously offered to purchase for me right then before the sale ended. What is wrong with me??
 But after next week I'm FREE! As I was looking through my planner (nerd alert) I realized pretty much every hour of every day this week is occupied. Yikes. I'll be glad when the weekend rolls around again! 

Thanksgiving 'n stuff

Okay where in the world did November go?? Suddenly it's almost over and I feel like it has just FLOWN by.It has been busy but so wonderful! I just want the next month to go by so SLOW. So I can enjoy it all.

I'm so stinkin' excited for Turkey Day. It is my 2nd most absolute favorite holiday (next to the Fourth of July.)
It's crazy that last year at this time we were in sunny Mexico livin' it up on a huge ship! But I'm excited to be HOME this year and be with fam. I'm planning on doing a KILLER workout Thursday morning so I can stuff my face. (without feeling TOO guilty ;)

Some weird thing I'm grateful for:
+money to pay the gas bill. (otherwise we'd literally freeze)
+broad shoulders (that sometimes make the seam in my shirt rip)
+water. to drink, to shower, to clean. I know i take it for granted.
+cowgirl boots
+homework (because even though I hate it, it means I'm getting  an education)
+banana breakfast smoothies. I would be lost without them.
+bruises on my shins and collar bone.  (because they are proof  that I am pushing myself)
+my beautiful opal wedding ring that I have never ONCE regretted.
+marriage. because it is better than I ever could have imagined
+WHITE chocolate. hold the brown stuff please.
+being able to teach the YW in our ward.
+eyebrow wax. mine are forests.
+feeling free
+Nate's blue semi truck. when I see it through the window at shop I can't help but jump for joy.
+FAMILY. on both sides that can always put a smile on my face.


So here's a little trip down memory lane.

Ann and me. Thanksgiving 2007. I remember being so excited she was HOME! 

Thanksgiving 2010. My first year of college and I had never been so grateful to spend turkey day with MY fam. and so.many.babies. 

Thanksgiving 2012. I had just barely gotten back from Ghana. Hence the tan skin and blondie hair. I couldn't get enough of that baby Lowell. 

Last year on Thanksgiving day. we swam and layed in the sun all day. perfection.

Oh and don't worry. Here is a selfie from this morning I took while waiting atthedamn train.
I really do have SO MUCH to be GRATEFUL for.