365 Days: 2013

2013 was an awesome year! It brought new cities, friends, adventures and accomplishments. Here's my year in review :)

We started the year out strong by overlooking our poorness

and becoming very resourceful.

We managed to go snowboarding a few times,

and also snowshoeing. Yes he tried to cross that log. Yes he fell in.

I was surprised with a great date night to dinner and one of my favorite musicals! 

Then Provo became covered in ice. Cons- falling, breaking things, and everything being covered in ice. 

Pros- ice skating and sliding on campus.

I took a weekend trip home to be at the ceremony where the Governor named my dad the Colonel of the Idaho State Police. So proud!!

Valentine's Day came leaving these gems at my seat in one of my classes. Then I had to carry these things around to all of the rest of my classes.

And a fort to eat our Thai take-out and watch movies. Staying in is way better than going out on V Day!!

Then came GREASY BURRITOS on a roadtrip! Complete with grease dripping in the photo. Bonus points. 

Destination reached.

Did my first lead climb ever! Oh yeah! 5.9 but I was TERRIFIED. Got the Elvis shakes! 

Birthday festivities came in full swing with a day of cheesecake, 

balloon bikes/animals,

And the biggest birthday surprise of my life.

Later I joined my friend for a joint birthday celebration! Yay for March!

Rusty's brother and sister came out to visit us for a weekend. Naturally, we made them hike the Y. It was my first time too (shhh).

Kayaking in Utah Lake!

Indian ladder. Don't worry, you just climb straight up. 

Hiking up to the first rappel in Pool Arch Canyon!

150 feet down...

The first free hanging rappel I've ever done!

Corona!!

Studying for finals...

WE FINISHED THE BASEMENT!!!!!!! I don't think that words can adequately describe the immense joy that came on this blessed day. Not to say that it topped my wedding day... but it was right up there. :)

Then we drove across the country.

Saw lots of cool things,

Played super awesome games,

ate DELICIOUS food,

and played. LOTS.

Rusty saw something that he's always wanted to see...

And so did I.

We did the cliche things like riding a steamboat on the Mississippi,

Seeing a Bluegrass concert in Nashville,

Eating MORE delicious food,

Paying our tributes to the King,

Listening to "up and coming" stars sing in EVERY Nashville establishment,

and seeing the COOLEST aquarium that I have ever been to (Except for the one in Valencia, Spain).

Summer came in full swing with normal things like FREE DOUGHNUT DAY,

and baseball games,

And some abnormal things like paddleboarding,

and eating chicken and waffles. Sidenote: surprisingly freaking delicious!

We celebrated the 4th in style, fulfilling every American thing we could think of. Including Root Beer in Beer bottles :)

I became a world-class golfer,

we visited the beach as much as possible, 

and explored the beautiful city of Charleston, SC.

We did something new for both of us by going to a play where we actually participated...

And went on hikes where our only companions were millions of mosquitoes. 

We visited Charlotte for the coolest food festival I have ever been to!

We bought all kinds of food,

And then we saw a Shakespeare play in the park.

We spent even more time at the beach,

went on the USS Yorktown,

visited Myrtle Beach,

and saw the biggest, oldest tree ever known to man (ok not really, but still).

Then we went to Cypress Gardens (where The Notebook was filmed) and went out on this boat. I mean seriously, how cute is that?

Cute bridge!

And we saw lots of gators. So close!!

We also went out to Ft. Sumter, which was a lot cooler than I thought it would be. And we saw dolphins on the boat ride over so it was definitely a win.

We also visited Savannah, GA

walked on the riverwalk,

and visited the wildlife reserve.

We visited old plantations,

went on a Blues and BBQ cruise,

and watched the sun set over the Charleston sky. It's true what they say; Charleston is best seen from the water. 

Went kayaking with my best friends!

And my hubs.

Watched the sun rise over the ocean with my better half,

and said goodbye to Charleston. For now. :)

We drove back across the country, going a different route to see some new things. We stopped in Memphis, TN and ate some delicious dry rub BBQ. My first time! This place was legit. You had to go through an alley and then down to the basement. 

Elvis. Tennessee loves him.

Drove on Route 66!

Saw Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX,

and added our personal touches. :)

Visited Colorado to see Rusty's family and to camp. Before we got to Ouray we stopped at Black Canyon.

Our camping site in Ouray. This is seriously one of (if not THE) prettiest places I have ever seen.

Hiking in Ouray!

We tried to have a little bit of Provo summer by going to a downtown festival, 

  

mountain biking up the canyon,

and going to the state fair!

Rusty was invited to go to the Boeing site in Salt Lake City, which was not a big surprise. The surprising part was that so was I! Rusty had talked to the manager there about maybe being transferred back to Salt Lake after spending a few years in Seattle so he invited us to go and take a look when the BYU interns were visiting as well. After being at the site we went downtown and had lunch at The Garden. I never got sick of this view.

We went to the BYU-Texas game with some friends,

and then were visited by Rusty's family! I love them!

We finished up the summer by going to Idaho to spend Labor Day with the fam. We got there just in time for the Hot Air Balloon festival.

Then my parents cashed in their birthday presents and we went and saw a play up at Starlight Mountain Theatre. This is one of my favorite places in the world. It is up in the mountains and it is an outdoor theatre. So cool!

Rusty had a birthday!! We celebrated in Idaho...

and in Charleston. :) 

We went out for our final, delicious seafood meal while living on the coast.

Also we ate at a burrito place on his actual birthday for lunch!

Fall came around and we became unsuccessful pirates,

but successful hikers! We conquered Mount Timpanogos (finally).

We did some trail riding,

saw some more BYU plays,

and drove Alpine Loop.

Rusty had his first race since his mission and he ROCKED it! (Also, look at Chase's face haha. I love him).

We went to the corn maze with some of our best friends in the world,

and I began teaching Kindergarten!

Halloween came and went, quicker than ever, but we did have time to make a new friend.

Apple Cider Day finalized the Fall. Fresh apple cider and homemade soup and bread up at the cabin the mountains... I really don't know why this is not a national holiday.

We brought in Thanksgiving in all of the right ways,

saw dinosaur tracks,

and the Forgotten Carols with good friends.

We went to Arhces National Park,

made arches with our mouths,

and saw Corona!

We went to Temple Square,

for our last Christmas in Salt Lake. 

Then we drove to Boise for Christmas! 

The night that we got there we went ice skating with my nephews

and my niece. :)

We also went to Merritt's, the best whole in the wall truck stop you'll ever find.

Famous for its scones. And for good reason!

And apparently for giant hamburgers.

Christmas Eve came with the arrival of the famous CHEESE BALL!

You would not believe how big of a tradition this thing is in our house.

Look at that stud getting ready for the party :)

These Santa mugs are also extremely important for every Christmas Eve.

Of course there was the Christmas Eve talent show,

And the beloved reading of the Cajun Night Before Christmas.

Jessica and I were ready for Santa to come in our Christmas pajamas and 

beautiful tree ornament/barrette things.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! EARLY IN THE MORNING!!!!!!!

Rusty's Homemade Santa Present. I drew pictures of some things that are important to him.

My Homemade Santa Present. Rusty wrote me a poem. Before you get carried away, you should know that it mentions a wench as well as skittles. 

A couple days after Christmas we decided that we wanted to get out and go on an adventure! So we went to this Birds of Prey canyon a half our from Meridian. It was really pretty!

After walking around there for a while, we went to Kuna Caves. This was all the rage back in high school :)

This ladder has been here as long as I can remember, but my dad says that when he was growing up it used to be just a swinging ladder. What the? No way.

We also went bowling, with a twist. We assigned each color of M&M a certain type of bowling (between the legs, non-dominant hand, lay down and push)...

But honestly the pictures don't do it justice. The videos capture the moment a lot better :)

Then we went snowmobiling!!!! The girls were so EXCITED,

but the boys were a little sleepy.

We saw some beautiful sights

and explored the tiny town of Idaho City. Not much there haha.

Then New Years came! And Idaho decided to do something that it has never done before... 

and created a giant potato to drop with the countdown to the new year. HOORAY!

We went to the Botanical Gardens and saw really beautiful light displays,

and ate delicious cookies and hot chocolate.

2013 really was an awesome year! It was hard, and crazy, and tiring, but it was also exciting, and fun, and rewarding. Each year that I spend with Rusty is better than the one before, and I just can't imagine it getting much better. We are really excited for the new adventures that will come in 2014! Bring it on. :)