Running......

For years I've been sad about the fact that I don't have an exercise buddy near by that could help me stay motivated. Well it hit me all of a sudden that I did. And he even slept in the same bed! ;) So, I thought I was really clever and that this would be the most perfect solution to getting rid of those unwanted pounds.....

Did I ever mention that I HATE running? I absolutely LOVE sports, but the idea of putting my body through pain and then gasping for breath when there is no goal or point scored, is such a let down. ;) So, when that alarm clock goes off in the morning and my sweet husband bounds out of bed ready to go, I kind of want to throw pillows at him (Did I ever mention I'm not really a morning person either? I love staying up late, but it takes forever for my brain to wake up!). Good thing Adam is really patient and laughs off my groggy threats. He helps me get going and out the door a couple of times a week. Maybe he missed his calling in life and should have been a personal trainer...

School days = Sick days.....

Well, we are right back in the thick of things! Adam is constantly busy with his school schedule and his practicum... matter of fact, where is that husband of mine? He has been in trainings until 9:00pm almost every night the past 2 weeks. Bless his heart! He is doing well though and really enjoying his practicum work. He loves the agency and the help it gives to various families.

I am in my 3rd week of school and didn't waste ANY time in getting sick ;) I have NEVER gotten sick so much in my life, until I became a teacher.... those little germ carriers ;) So I am now battling a vicious, vicious cold.

My class is great though and I am enjoying the school year so far. I really do love teaching 3rd grade! They still love their teacher, but I don't have to wipe any noses ;) A great new thing this year is that my students last year get to come back and visit. I have LOVED this!! Last year, I moved schools, so I knew I would never get to see them again (my heart broke). But this year I get to see them every day. They have been stopping in the classroom and keeping me updated on their lives and experiences in 4th grade. I do miss those kids and honestly you can't beat their thoughtfulness. The future is bright with this next generation.

A little late, but still sincere

This blog is quite late, but I did want to recognize my sweetheart's birthday. He turned the big 28 a little while ago and did it with a lot less emotion then I did ;) I admit that I struggled with the concept of being so close to 30, but he didn't even give it a second thought! Maybe it's just 'cause men don't care about these things ;)

On his birthday we were down in Nevada for a family reunion, and the only thing he requested was lunch at Red Robin. He started this tradition when he was about 12 and unconsciously (until this year ;) we had kept up that tradition. We had fallen in love with Red Robin when it became our date-place in Provo, so off to 'Vegas we went with my cousins Amie and Kelly. It was a really great day and super chill. We hadn't been able to hang out with them and chat for quite some time, so it just added to the whole 'fun factor' of the day ;)

He told me he felt "spoiled" from all the gifts and attention from everyone, but I just think he deserved it. He is truly the best guy EVER and I love him to death. I don't know why I was able to find this guy, but the stars aligned in June 2005. He is so selfless and I appreciate his continual help with my callings and classroom. He is my knight ;)

Portland

So last week, Adam was talking with his mom and she mentioned that there would be a family reunion the next week up in Portland...... Yup, you guessed it. We loaded up the car a couple of days later and headed out for a fantastic adventure! ;)

We ADORE the North-West and really anything about it. (Well, the huge amount of rain might not be totally cool;) We drove straight to Eugene,OR and had the opportunity to have fabulous friends that took in a couple of vagabonds for a couple of days. We stayed with our good friends Teressa and Dave, and had SUCH a good time! We went to the beach, snuck in a good 'ole game of dominoes (Dave you're going to be humbled next time! ;), and caught up on all the good stuff in life. Thanks you guys!

The BEST restaurant on the planet!!! I LOVE this place!!! Food straight from their backyard ;) (Adam doesn't like seafood, so he was a champ to let Teressa and I have a treat)






The view from our table















It was pretty windy at the beach, so Adam found another way to entertain himself ;) Didn't I say in a previous post that he will find random ways to entertain himself? Photo proof is now available!







Unfortunately I totally forgot to get pics with Teressa, Dave and their ADORABLE little girl, but I guess that just gives us an excuse to see them again soon ;)


So, on Friday we headed to pick up my Mother-in-law from the airport and start the busy family weekend! We had such a good time touring around Portland and seeing all of the old hangout spots she had (Bev grew up in Portland, so we were able to see some really cool stuff)


At the Rose Gardens once again! I love this place! Dang gorgeous




















Visiting my future house once again ;)
















After the Pittock mansion I got to go to my little heaven on earth... Powell's bookstore! Could life get any better? An ENTIRE city block with 5 stories of wonderful books.... Ahhhhh..... DEFINITELY heaven ;)








Then on Saturday we headed downtown to the Portland Market. I really enjoyed being able to just wander the booths and see all of the handcrafted items. There are some seriously talented people out there!






Adam enjoying the trip














Then we headed over to the reunion and had a grand 'ole time chatting with everybody. It was good to meet some of the cousins I had never met and it was good for Adam to see some of them for the first time in 10 years. Gotta love family get togethers!



Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, so we had to head back home on Sunday. On our way home, Adam wanted to show me this random little spot on the Oregon/Washington border. There was this random guy that had seen Stonehenge in England when he was there for WWII and he decided to build another one in the state of Washington. It's in memory of those soldiers and is COMPLETELY random ;) Adam told me I could scratch this off of my Bucket List and I said it didn't quite count ;)

Bear Lake

I don't know how this paradise has escaped my attention before, but it is honestly a piece of heaven! Adam hadn't even been up there until a month ago and he kept saying "This is huge! I never knew it was so big." My surprise was the sandy beaches..... almost as good as the coast ;) We had planned this expedition a couple of weeks ago with my sister and brother-in-law, Tasha and Justin, and some friends Collin and Michon. It was such a fun day! We were able to just relax and play in the water until we were worn out. Definitely a perfect day ;)



Adam settling in for a wonderful day in the sun ;)





The cutest little swimmer on the lake!


The boys burning all their energy off playing Frisbee in the water.

Wyoming, Part 2

So we were able to have TWO full weeks with family, and enjoy the fairly mild Wyoming weather. The second week started off really great with a girl shopping trip up to Cody, Wyoming. It was really great to just chill with my sisters and mom (and Mylah ;) but getting out of stores quickly is NOT always a talent the Whipple family has ;) I guess it has been cultivated over several generations! We had a great time and I loved our girlie trip.

The next day, My dad, my brother, Adam and I got up bright and early and headed out to fish on Sunshine Lake. It was gorgeous! I had so much fun! (Even if I did get out-fished by my husband ;) I guess I had been too cocky the week before.....

We got rained out for a bit, but headed out on our boat again after only half an hour.














Enjoying the view


















After we enjoyed Sunshine Lake, we met up with my sister Tonya and watched Transformers 2....... was anyone else disappointed in the sexual content? I really liked the story line, but was SERIOUSLY disgusted in how they tried to sell anything inappropriate..... maybe I'm getting old, but it won't be a video I add to my collection.


The next stage in our vacation was heading back up to the mountains! Justin had joined us from Oregon, so we were able to head back up to the mountain for 2 more nights..... seriously my happy place! I love it up there.





The view from our tent. Gorgeous, huh?







One night we were peacefully playing Dominoes and in walks this moose! It walked RIGHT BY our table! If I would have reached out my hand, I could have touched the dang creature ;) All I could think was "Don't move.... please don't charge us. Don't move" ;)











After the excitement with the big ole' moose, the boys decided they needed to have a boat race. Whenever Adam gets bored, he starts pacing around trying to find something to entertain him. This night his creative mind came up with the race of the century! (We're not entirely sure who won..... there were a lot of rocks on the home stretch ;)






The race is on!











This is what happens when you take an adorable 2 year old to the bathrooms in the mountains! Check out all the beads! A random lady thought she was the cutest little thing and gave us a HUGE handful of beads..... go figure. It pays to have an adorable niece ;)





So, then we headed down the mountain on the 4th of July and helped my grandfather with his firework stand. Can I just express my intense love for Wyoming on the 4th of July?! EVERYTHING is legal to set off there! We went crazy for about 2 hours at my uncle's house and the boys LOVED the legal opportunity to light the world on fire ;) It was awesome to laugh until my sides hurt!

I LOVE the 4th of July..... it's really great to think of what this country stands for. I truly appreciate what our military men and women do for us and pray for them always. God bless America.

A couple of days later we headed home and back to reality. It was really special to spend so much time with our grandparents. I love them dearly and appreciate their patience in putting up with us! These moments go by so fast....

Wyoming: Part 1.5

After reading the blog, I (Adam) felt the need to interject and comment about the whole "catching a 'tree fish'" scenario. Yes, I did throw my hook-n-bobber into the tree, but in my defense there are a few factors that my wife failed to mention:

1. The tree was practically in the water (to those of you that were there, go along with it or your Christmas presents are in jeopardy)…
2. I think that my hand was pretty well maimed after taking that hook into my hand, thus throwing off my aim. Also, I noticed that she didn't mention that it was HER fish that I was pulling the hook from--I do have one tough cookie of a wife, but she draws the line at grabbing a slimy fish…
3. I was trying to cast between Shari’s line—being the accommodating husband that I am—and the shoreline (in total maybe a 30 degree area). Given that this was really only my 2nd official time fishing, that tree at 45 degrees wasn’t that bad of a shot…

By all other accounts, Shari’s post is correct and I can now whole-heartedly endorse this blog… Stay tuned for more, including a close encounter of the moose-kind!