Anniversary

For our Anniversary I was told to take Monday and Tuesday off of work. I had no idea what was planned, but did as I was told. Monday morning we slept in late, then went and had Noodles & Company for lunch (which I have been craving for like 2 months now!) We were just being casual and Lucas was playing it off that he didn't really have anything planned and would just play it by ear. On our way home I commented on how beautiful the leaves still were. Little did I know, this played perfectly into his plan. A couple hours later we were just relaxing and watching some TV when Lucas asked if I wanted to get my camera and go on a drive since the leaves were still pretty. So we left and started driving toward the mountains. Our drive took us to Black Hawk. I had gone to the Ameristar with Lucas over the summer to do a glass job, and while we were there we put a dollar in a slot machine and had a little fun.

 

So as were pulled up to the Ameristar he asked if I wanted to go in and put a couple of dollars in for something to do (we aren't gamblers, but we figured it was the cost of some entertainment). As I was sitting at a slot machine Lucas had to go to the bathroom. He came back asking if I was ready to go and said a guy told him we had to check out the view from the 28th floor. We rode the elevator up and Lucas pulled out a room key. (Ya right, going to the bathroom was really checking in!) We walked into the most amazing hotel suite! (Lucas got a deal since he does glass for the hotel!) He even had secretly packed an over-night bag for the 2 of us, swimsuits included! We had fun swimming, relaxing in the hot tub, and just being together!

Jet tub in our room with a view of the mountains!

Sitting area



Eating area

Yes, there was even a TV in the bathroom



This bathroom was huge! It was the size of a bedroom.

A 2 sided fireplace with a big screen
TV on each side

 what kind of hotel room has it's own "guest" powder room?

 

We had sparkling apple cider brought to the room to celebrate and we ate the top of our wedding cake, (I wonder where that tradition started??) which actually still tasted pretty good!

 

 

It was a wonderful anniversary and I am so blessed to be married to such an amazing man!

 

It's Not What It Seems.......

I know that by looking at our house, it appears that we have totally neglected our yard for weeks. Really, I promise, we cleaned up our leaves just a couple days before this! Welcome to Fall at our house!!!! (good thing my parents and I got Lucas a leaf mulcher for his birthday!)

 

The Beauty of Autumn

The school I work at had an early release day, and it just happened that Lucas needed to go to Granby that afternoon for work. I was able to go with him and I took along my new toy! (a new DSLR camera!) Since fall is my favorite time of year, I was really excited to take pictures of all the leaves changing colors! Some of the hills looked like they were on fire from the boldness of the colors.

 ---Most of these photos were actually taken from the moving car.---



There was even snow when we got up to timberline!

Bridals

I know it has been about a year, but here are some of my bridal pictures. (since I never got around to posting them before now!)

Where Has the Time Gone?

Summer is almost over, I can't believe it! I start work at the school again on Monday. This summer has gone so fast and has been very busy.

Back in the beginning of June I went to Utah to help my sister find a wedding dress. Later in June we went on a triple date with some friends of ours. We went to dinner and then to Adventure Golf to play put-put and ride the go-carts. We ran into some other friends at Adventure Golf so they joined us on our now quadruple date. On the way home we got frozen yogurt. It is so fun to have other couples to hang out with!

The beginning of July was our spontaneous South Dakota trip. As soon as we got home from that trip we celebrated Lucas's 30th birthday. Since Lucas isn't too crazy about cake, I made him Peanut Butter Cup Bars. Reese's are his favorite candy, so he was very happy with this decision! As the chocolate on top was starting to harden, I wrote in it with a toothpick.

They were very rich, but very yummy! Later in July I went to Girls' Camp with church. I thought by moving to a new stake I wouldn't have to go to Girls' Camp anymore, but I was wrong! They asked me to go as the Level 2 leader. I was in charge of 43 girls, plus 12 youth leaders. It was a little crazy, but I had a lot of fun! It was nice to get to know the other leaders. I didn't know anyone before I went, except for a girl who I babysat when she was just a tiny baby! Now she is 13....I feel old! Haha!

The camp had chipmunks everywhere! They were very friendly, too. They would crawl up your leg if you let them! They were always trying to get in the tents and meal time was their favorite. I watched this little guy snatch a piece of lettuce that someone had dropped. He ran with it under the chair next to me and then munched on it.

After I got home from camp Lucas and I cleaned out all the bushes from our backyard. We have a much bigger yard now!

August brought another trip to Utah. We went to see Brooke graduate BYU and go to the temple.

Lucas and I, along with my parents, went to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.

Brooke chose the Manti Temple for her endowment. Lucas and I had never been to that one, so we were very excited! It looks like a castle!

Tomorrow is Brooke and Greg's wedding in the Denver Temple. I can't believe it is here already! Time to spend the last weekend of summer break with all the out of town family!

New Bed

Our bed used to sit on an old metal bed frame. The frame was not in the best condition, which resulted in sore backs from the bed sloping to the middle. We needed more support!! I had been watching the ads for beds on sale that I actually liked, and had no luck. While looking around on one of my favorite blogs, Brown Paper Packages, I found a bed that they had made from wooden pallets. It was cute and cost less to make than anything in the stores. We followed the general idea and used some scrap wood from a mirror crate that Lucas got at work.

Here is a "Before" look at our bed:

Lucas cutting down all the boards to size

Laying the pieces out

We got a new tool to play with! It is called a pocket jig and it makes diagonal holes so you can screw something into the side.

All put together with extra support in the middle.

W painted our bed a chocolate brown (seriously, the paint literally looked like melted chocolate) and put a poly coat over it.

And here is the finished product!!......

When we put the box spring and mattress on our new bed and layed down we could immediately feel a difference. Wow, we actually have a comfy mattress and never knew it!