Tennessee

Jared's grandparents live in Tennessee on a beautiful piece of land.  Papa is a cattle rancher.  Grandma is one of the best southern cooks.  Jared has fond memories of spending time at his grandparents home.  When he was three years old, his aspiration in life was to live on Papa's farm.  This summer, Jared's family decided to go back for a visit.  They invited us to tag along so... we hopped in their 12 passenger van with 10 other passengers and drove for 30 straight hours to east Tennessee.  Boy, was that an adventure of it's own!  But, we made it, despite stiff backs and swollen ankles!

Tennessee is BEAUTIFUL!!  They have had incredible amounts of rain this year (6 inches of which we saw fall with our own eyes while we were there!).  All that rain made it very, very green as you will see!  It also curtailed a few of our plans, but we didn't let it take away from all the fun we had!

Highlights of the trip included:

• This view from our porch at the condo we stayed at!  The water really was teal and this area was filled with noisy bullfrogs and an incredible view of the stars!  

• Daily games of Ultimate Frisbee and Corn Hole.  We spent nearly every possible minute outside!  The temperatures were actually quite mild due to the rain and it wasn't even that humid.  We really lucked out!

• Pickin' wild berries!  Because of the rain, there were TONS of berries all over Papa's property.  I only ended up with one tick during our adventures (it hadn't even made me it's home yet so I was very lucky we found it when we did!).  I think I could pick (and eat) berries all day, every day!  It was so fun and absolutely delicious.  

• Every evening and any time it was pouring rain, we ended up sitting out on the porch and enjoyed the view and the company!  The second I saw this porch swing, I fell in love!  I spent many hours on this over the course of the week there! 

• While there, we drove to the Nashville Temple.  It is a very small temple, but absolutely beautiful!  I am so glad that I went.  Going meant a lot more time in the van, but it was worth it!  I love to see and be in different temples! 

• One afternoon, we went to Fall Creek Falls National Park.  It was beautiful!  Usually you can play out on the falls because there isn't too much water, but as you can see, there was a good few FEET of water flowing through the falls when we went!  It was really fun to walk over this bridge!  What an amazing part of the world! 

• We got to go out and ride the 4-wheelers a few times.  We rode around Papa's fields and went out and saw his cattle.  Jared helped out around the property fixing things up and clearing things out.  He makes quite the handsome cowboy!  It was so fun to see him out there LOVING life!  I have found few things he likes more that being on the farm (maybe snow skiing... maybe).

• We spent the the 4th of July out there.  We saw the best firework show, got to hear some live country music, and we celebrated with lots of yummy food.  Ok, ok, we ate yummy food every day!  Grandma spoiled us with Banana Pudding, Biscuits and Gravy, Fried Chicken, Apple Dumplings, Cake and Fresh Berries, and Homemade Fresh Berry Ice Cream (just to name a few).  I am positive that I gained a few, like 5 pounds while I was there just from all the irresistible food and I don't regret it one bit!  It was worth every.single.bite! 

• The views there are wonderful and pictures don't even do them justice.  I loved every minute of our 8 days there and I was incredibly sad to leave.  I did not want to go!  I now know why Jared loves it there so much!  It's a place I hope we can get back to many more times over the years! 

• Thanks so much Grandma and Papa for letting us come visit!  We had a wonderful time!  We love you both so much!  Love, Jared and Kourtney

Summer Lovin'

Jared and I had lots of time together in June since I was finished with work and he only had one class at BYU.  So what did we do with our time?

Well,

• We went to the Utah Lake Festival.  It would have been lots of fun if we had a toddler who enjoyed lots of little games; however, there wasn't much else going on there so we just walked around and enjoyed looking out at the lake.  It is beautiful!

• We went and enjoyed some of the parade at the Orem Summerfest, walked around all the boutique booths, and played games with friends while we waited for the fireworks show. I love all the little summer festivals, rodeos, and carnivals that Utah has! 

We went to dinner at Red Iguana in Salt Lake with my mom.  It is the best Mexican restaurant we have found in Utah yet!  YUM!  (Thanks mom for taking us!)

• We walked around the Provo Temple with my family.  They weren't planning on coming up, but plans changed and we enjoyed spending time with them for a few days!  It was so good to see them again!  It had been 6 months! 

• As we drove to Arizona, we ended up only driving halfway the first day and then we stayed the night at Jacob's Lake Inn.  It is just outside the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We could see the stars SO well and the pine trees smelt so good!  It was beautiful!  Of course we had to buy nearly every cookie there at the inn.  They have won cookie of the year in AZ so many times so we had to get lots to eat and some to take home to my family!  A was with us (we brought her home from BYU Swim Camp).  We had a wonderful trip back to Arizona! 

DIY Pencil Skirt

After finding a blog through pinterest about up-fashioning things, I started keeping an eye out on items I could up-fasion.  I have wanted a polka-dot pencil skirt for a long time, but to find one that is long enough for me is rare and the find comes with a pricey price tag (usually around $50).

At a used clothing store here in Provo I was so excited when I found this

very very mini dress for $8. (hence the reason there was no chance I was modeling it).

It was perfect.  I cut off the top of the dress in a straight line and hemmed it up.  I flipped it upside down so that the part of the dress truly made for your hips was still worn at my hips.  I don't have any cute, black belts to wear with it so I bought some cute elastic and simply sewed the ends together and used that as the "belt".  This skirt took about 20 minutes to make.

The total for this skirt came to $11.54 including the "belt."  I wore it last Sunday and it was quite comfortable!  I think I might be able to add more my wardrobe if I can do it for these prices!

Memorial Day + School is Out

For Memorial Day, we took full advantage of our season passes to Seven Peaks, a water park here in Provo.  They have a bunch of slides that are geared for a two-man tube so we were able to go on all of them together!  It was super fun!  And boy, was I excited to see the sun!  Work has kept me inside nearly all year and I have missed the sun! (Can't you tell by how white I am!?!)

For dinner we went out to Texas Roadhouse and took advantage of some of the great sales happening.  I love finding a good deal especially on something we have been looking for for a long time!  

Thursday was my last day of work this school year and Jared passed his Phlebotomy class Friday night.  He can officially draw blood and I won't have to hear as many stories about draws during dinner now... at least until he gets a job as a phlebotomist in the Fall.

That news means it's now officially SUMMER in this household!  I am loving the weather, all this time with my husband, and all the fun things we have planned!  I think I could get used to having a job that gives me a 2 1/2 month break each year!

Stewart Falls

After 3 additional x-rays, an MRI, a DEXA scan, and even more visits to the doctor, my doctor finally decided that I experienced a stress reaction in my foot.  Treatment for a stress reaction is 4-6 weeks of wearing the walking boot.  May 14th was my 4-week mark.

Our ward had this hike to Stewart Falls planned for Saturday, the 25th.

Needless to say, I had a goal.  I had to be ready to do this easy hike by then.  Last week was my first week not in the boot at work.  It was WONDERFUL to be "boot" free.  I started slowly adding time back on the eliptical.  

Saturday was the first real test.  It was one of the most beautiful days we have had yet this season and the company was wonderful too!  The hike was amazing and... my foot held up great!! 

It was miraculous to think that just a few short weeks ago (It felt like forever though...) I couldn't even put pressure on my foot, let alone have it bear the weight of my body.  Now it is healed and working again.  Our bodies are incredible!  I am so thankful for a body that can heal.  

After that hike, I am itching to be back outside all day every day and enjoying all that Utah has to offer this time of year!  I love the outdoors, but who couldn't love it when it is filled with gems like Stewart falls?!

 

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today...

 I spent all day fretting over the blind date that was going to take place that night.

I taught a lifeguarding class that afternoon

and

didn't even do my sopping wet hair.

I was SO nervous to start dating again.  

I had never felt so nervous for a date in my entire life.

I begged my mom to tell him I was sick or something.

I cried when the doorbell rang - pathetic, I know, but it's true.

I heard my mom welcome him in.  

My brother, J, the matchmaker, sat and talked with him.

My mom came down and said,
"He looks nice.  I don't think he'll bite... now GET UP THERE!"

I pleaded in a last second prayer for courage.

I walked out and saw him for the first time.  He was facing away from me.  I could barely see his profile.  He was handsome, tall, and had an amazing smile.

Little did I know then, that he was the man I would marry!

I am so thankful to my brother, J, and his sister, E for 

setting us up on that blind date.

I am so thankful for my mom who didn't give me a way out.

I am so thankful that God allowed us to meet.

I am so glad he asked me to marry him.

It has been one amazing year!

Tulips!

Jared had a few days off in between semesters last week so I took one of my vacation days.

We slept in (so nice since we still get up before the sun nearly every day)

We ate breakfast on our patio

We went grocery shopping

Then...

We went to the Tulip Festival!

I have been wanting to go to this since I heard about it (shortly after we moved up in August). 

Jared was less excited to go, but still so good to come and enjoy it with me.

I knew nothing about the place other than they grow nearly a quarter of a million tulips each spring.

Boy, was I in for a treat!

It was 

INCREDIBLE!

See for yourself...

The Tulip Festival is held at Thanksgiving Point Gardens

which is made of many connected gardens. 

The one pictured below is the

Italian Garden

(I see the word Italy and I think of my brother on his mission)

These blossoms on this tree below are everywhere right now and although they smell nothing like Orange Blossoms, they are SO beautiful!

Yeah, don't worry, although it's technically spring, it still snows every couple weeks...

including yesterday.

Sheesh!

On this day though, the weather could not have been more perfect!  

It was sunny and warm! 

They have the biggest manmade waterfall in the western hemisphere.  I had no idea! 

Below is a picture of a sculpture (bigger than life-size) of Christ walking on water.

This garden is called the 

Light of the World.

It was so inspiring!

And scriptures were scattered throughout the gardens. 

This one below sums it all up.