Hiking Antelope Island

Saturday was such a gorgeous day that we decided to pack up the dogs and head out to Antelope Island State Park for some hiking fun.  The trip out there was excruciating (there is so much construction going on and way too much traffic), but we finally arrived.  And boy, was it worth it!  The views from the causeway were incredible and it is almost hard to imagine that something so beautiful and remote can be right outside of a major metropolitan area!

After a quick stop by the Visitor's Center, we headed to the Buffalo Point Trail to start hiking.  This hike is only about a half of a mile, but it is tough going.  It is rocky, narrow and completely uphill.  I thought the dogs would struggle, but they both really liked it.  Kira was definitely the bigger surprise.  She totally took the lead and was a trailblazer up the entire path.  I think we have finally found Kira's optimum hiking conditions.

The views from the tops were spectacular (although the biting gnats weren't)...we did manage to get a couple

of really cute pictures with the dogs before we were eaten alive.

                                                      

                                                     

                                                     

The insects were awful and it wasn't until we got home that we realized that we had bites all over from our hike.  Poor Kira and Koda...the inside of their ears had a ton of little red bites.  We have been rubbinbg hydrocortizone on them day and night since.

As we were descending from the hike, I was shocked by how far up we had traveled.

                                                     

                                                     

                                                     

After our hike, we decided to drive out to the Buffalo Corrals and see if we could catch a glimpse of some buffalo.  There were tons of them in the corrals...we even saw a little baby!

                                                       

                                                       

As I was getting back in the car, I got this really cute picture of Jeff and the dogs...Koda was really intrigued by the buffalo and wanted to go and play with them (although I am sure the buffalo wouldn't feel the same).

                                                      

After seeing the buffalo, we headed out to Fielding Garr Ranch to walk around.  On the road out there, we saw free range buffalo, a coyote (that came a little too close to the car) and some antelope!  It was neat to see such big animals just hanging out at the park.

                                                      

When we finally made it out to the ranch, there was so much to look at...old ranch and farm houses and old farm equipment.  The ranch house is the oldest structure in Utah that still remains on its original foundation...amazing!  Here are some pictures from the ranch.

                                                       

                                                     

                                                      

                                                     

                                                     

                                                       

I thought this picture was hilarious!  Not the best idea for a gas tank, but I guess it would do in a pinch!  Thank goodness I didn't live back then, as this would be an unacceptable form of transportation to me.

                                                     

                                                     

                                                             

After spending about 6 hours at the park, we were tired and ready to go home.  On the road back to the causeway, we saw more buffalo...and some stupid kids messing with it.  Jeff took a series of pictures, just in case the buffalo charged and gored one or both of them.  Seriously idiots, these are strong, wild animals you probably don't want to piss off!

                                                     

And finally, a picture of Kira on the ride home...we all looked like this after a fun day hiking and exploring at Antelope Island. 

                                                     

Needless to say, we all slept well Saturday night!

Missing Something?...

...furniture!  I would like to introduce you to my new main floor living room as of Saturday night.  Our new furniture was supposed to be delivered on April 21, so we thought we would get the old stuff out of the house before the new furniture arrived.  Well, this seems to be my punishment for being on the ball because the day after we had gotten rid of our furniture, Ashley Furniture called and told us that there is another 6 week "manufacturing delay" for our furniture and that the earliest they could deliver it would be May 28...seriously?!?  We purchased the new stuff on March 5; if it isn't delivered until May 28, that will be 12 weeks before I have my new furniture.  As you cna tell, I am not very happy about the situation, but what can I do (short of calling up Ashley and cursing them out)?  In the meantime, I guess we will just enjoy our empty room for the next 6 weeks.  Maybe I should look on the bright side...it is one less thing to keep clean!

I'm a "Fan" of my husband

I know, silly title for this post, but it is true...my hubby is the best!  He is so handy to have around the house, for all those little house projects that need to be completed...especially when the work is his idea and not mine.  Case in point...we were in Lowe's on Saturday afternoon (for the second time, since we needed to pick up a few more adapters for the sprinkler system) and get happened to walk past the ceiling fan section.  Jeff is determined to change our light in the library to a fan/light combination.  We also want to change the fan in our bedroom (since it has porno gold accents) to one that matches the bedroom furniture more with its antique nickel finish.  Jeff decided that we had to buy new fans for both rooms on Saturday.  Now, I was very impressed with his eagerness to spend money...usually it is like pulling teeth.  But not Saturday; we went into Lowe's for $3.00 worth of adapters and came out almost $200 later with two ceiling fans...and the adapters.  I am still trying to determine how they can put women's clothing and shoes in a Lowe's store...then I would be able to shop without the grunting and weird looks from my hubby. :-)

Jeff started with the library one on Sunday and within about an hour, it was up and ready to go.

The new fan looks amazing and even has a cool remote to turn both the fan and light on and off.  It is gonna be so much more handy during the warm summer months.  Looks like I may be spending a lot of time in the library reading in the near future. 

Thanks for being so handy around the house, Jeff.  It has definitely been an advantage to making the house look gorgeous! 

First Warm Weekend of the Season = Yardwork

There is only one word to describe this weekend...gorgeous!  I just wanted to spend the entire weekend outside soaking up the sun and warmth, which is pretty much what we did.  The majority of the weekend was devoted to getting the yard de-winterized and ready for spring.  It is amazing how much destruction the cold and snow can cause in a yard.  There were weeds to be pulled, the pruning of shrubs and flowers, fertilizing the yard, getting the sprinkler system up and running again and planting vegetables in the garden!

This year, we decided to start with plants instead of seeds, hoping that we will have a better harvest.  We also took a lot of time to amend the soil and add a whole bunch of new, nutrient rich soil to the garden.  Hopefully, all our hard work will pay off this year with a nice harvest!  We planted a ton of different veggies, including, tomatoes, green bell peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, string beans, sugar snap peas, yellow squash, zucchini, onions, spinach, strawberries and basil.  All the plants looked so green and cute pnce planted in the garden.  Now, if we can withstand the cold snap predicted at the end of the week (I already have the blankets and sheets pulled out and ready to go), it should be smooth sailing into summer with yummy, home-grown veggies as the reward!

  

Other happenings from our weekend outdoors...Koda learned that he liked lemon lime Gatorade.  Even though he had a huge bowl of ice cold water outside for him, we caught him with his tongue (literally) in the act!

And Kira told her dad a secret outside.  I think she was actually in the middle of a lick, but it looks like she is

telling him a secret, so that is what we are going with!

It was a great start to what will hopefully be a nice (and warm) spring and summer.

Lumpy Bed

Sunday (as always) was filled with getting the house clean and ready for the coming work week.  This is because we are usually so exhausted during the week that we don't have the energy to clean.  To combat our laziness during the week, we normally deep clean the house on Sunday so we only have to maintain it during the week.  One of the normal Sunday chores is to wash the sheets on the bed and remake the bed.  I always try to do this early, so I am not having to run around late at night in order to make sure we can go to bed on Sunday night.

Yesterday, I had stripped the bed and had the fitted sheet and flat sheet back on with the comforter...I was just waiting for the blanket to dry before I could put that back on the bed.  Well, Koda had another idea and that was to jump in the bed right after it was made (that dog loves warm sheets).  When I finally brought up the blanket to put on the bed, he refused to move off the bed...so I made the bed with Koda in it!

Where'd that lump come from?

Even long after we had uncovered his head, he refused to leave the bed.  He was really soaking up all the warmth from the blanket being in the dryer. 

He must've layed like that for about two hours...what a cute little dog!

Anniversary Dinner

Although Friday was our actual anniversary, I wasn't feeling the greatest, so we decided to make it an anniversary weekend and pushed dinner off until Saturday.  Saturday was filled with washing both cars (inside and out), mowing the lawn and working in the yard.  By late afternoon, I was exhausted and not really wanting to get ready for dinner.  But, I am so glad I forced myself to get in the shower and get ready.  We went to Carino's for dinner and had the nicest dinner, complete with calamari, pasta,  tons of drinks and tiramisu for dessert (which we took home because we were stuffed)!  The company and conversation were the best (as always). 

Here are a couple of pictures that we took before dinner to commemorate this monumental anniversary.

And, finally, all our anniversary cards from friends and family...can you tell that we are loved?

Thanks for the great night out, Jeff...I really enjoyed it.

Totally Healed

Jeff had one final doctor's visit on Friday for his hip.  I really think the doctor just wanted to see us again (and get the cigar that we normally bring him), but that is another story.  After another x-ray, the doctor said his femur is completely healed from the fracture!  Now, we just need to keep working on strengthening those muscles so that he is back to his pre-fall self.  Dr. Brady said it could take up to a year before he is feeling back to his old self and trying to remember what hip he even broke.  I was a little discouraged to hear that it could be another 7 months before he is ready to start running again, but I have seen how far he has come in the past 5 months, so I know that he will be fine.  I am so glad that we are on the downside of this whole ordeal...what a crazy couple of months it has been.

And, instead of another doctor's appointment, we told Dr. Brady we would meet him for dinner and drinks one night...and, since we have paid him so much money in co-pays and surgeries the past few months, dinner is on him!

5 Years Down, A Lifetime to Go

Ready for a long walk down memory lane?  I thought that this post would be a good forum for me to put down in words what this day means to me at this moment in my life.  I want to be able to look back on this post years from now and be able to feel the raw emotion as I wrote these words. 

Jeff and I are celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary today.  I can't believe it has already been 5 years!  Where did all the time go?  I look back now and can't believe everything that we have been through...long distance separation (which lasted throughout our courtship and even 4 months into our marriage), stressful education (MBA for him and undergrad, masters and Ph.D. for me) , the loss of important family members (my grandma McKinney and his grandparents Fortiner and his grandfather McNaughton), new jobs, a move across country and making two houses (so far) our home.  But that does not even begin to describe all the trials and tribulations we have experienced.  The last couple of years have been a struggle for us...not in our marriage, but in discovering what we want and being able to make that a reality.  Throughout all the disappointments and hard times, one thing has remained steady...our love and constant devotion to each other.  I know that no matter where life takes us or how difficult our daily lives become, I have him right next to me to help me make it through.  No matter what life throws at us, we will be fine.

So, to commemorate this important anniversary, here are some of my favorite photos of us through the years...enjoy!

One of the first pictures we took as a couple in early 1998.  We were getting ready to go to a replica dinner of what was served on the Titanic the night it sank.  It was the first time I was having dinner with his whole family and I was so nervous.  It turned out to be the greatest night!

This was our first professional picture together...makes me laugh now since I remember Jeff being afraid to get these pictures done because he had never taken this type of picture with anyone else and it would mean "that we were going to get married"...guess he got over the fear! :-) Boy, do we look young!

The next picture is one of my favorites and was taken on our first cruise together, over New Years 1999.  We were dressed up for New Years Eve on the ship and I won $100 playing bingo that night!  Great memories!

                                                             

                                                     

                                                           

                                                                                   

                                                    

                                                   

                                                              

And, finally, some pictures of our wedding day, the happiest day of our lives (so far)...

                                                                             
So, to answer my earlier question, where did all the time go?  Oh yeah, that's right...we were out living life and having fun!

Jeff, I can honestly say that I fall more in love with you each passing day.  We have had a storybook romance and there are times that I just want to pinch myself to ensure that it is real.  I look forward to making and sharing so many more memories with you as the years progress.  Happy Anniversary sweetie!