Just Falling in Love Every Day!

We have been married 10 months. It's crazy. The even more crazy part is that every day it gets better and more fun. We have had some amazingly fun times, most of them when we just laugh, for no reason. We have been watching a few funny shows, The Office, Parks and Rec and a few others, and we lay in bed and laugh, and the episode ends and we keep laughing. It is so much fun. We love to eat cafe rio. Even after 40 plus weeks, we still like to go once every week or two. We volunteered at the marathon a few weeks ago, and spend time working on the new house. Life is just ever changing, and it's positive if you want it to be. Just a quick update, but it's back to work!

Summer 2012

I came upstairs one day in June and Ashley's mom told me she could tell I was happy because I was singing country music at the top of my lungs. It was true. My parents were coming down to visit us, because we hadn't seen them since the wedding (the joys of marrying a foreigner) and I was excited to see them. We played and hiked in Zion's and ate good food, and good treats. We also planned a family get together with all the married kids. It would be the first time in a long time we had all been together. The firs weekend of August became our family reunion. We met at Lava Hot Springs in Idaho, and had a blast. We played games, camped out, and spent time around our propane fire pit (fireban in all of Idaho). Some of our favorite highlights were jumping off the platforms at the pools, Ashley and I winning the treading water contest, the hot pools at night, square ice cream, and family pictures. Thanks to Mom and Dad and everyone who drove long distances to host such a fun trip. It was a blast!

Life's Unexpected Tragedies

This past week we had some rain. A lot of rain, and I was worried our garage would flood again like it had before. St. George is supposed to be a dry, desolate waste land... It's not supposed to rain, much... But since we have lived at home it seems as though it has rained every other day of the summer. Flash flooding, basements getting water, and retaining walls turning backyards into swimming pools were a few of the things we saw. But no one expected the events of 09/11/12. The Santa Clara dike breaking causing a massive flood to rip through several neighborhoods. However, it has been a near experience to have the community rally around these people. To spend countless hours working and cleaning and helping families the best they can. My bosses sent us to help. We were able to get out and help. I felt so much joy and love for these people, and wished I could do more. But as we all know, life has unexpected tragedies, and it's the people that rally around us that make life bearable. We gratefully sustained no damage, but here are a few pictures of the experience. I am grateful to have such wonderful examples to look up to and aspire to.

Sunday afternoon!

I just wanted to post a little thought. Ashley and I have been making a lo of big decisions lately. I was so proud as we were talking one night this week and she turned to me and said, "we need to go to the temple." It was a reminder to me of the righteous power women have in the lives of men. They keep us in line. I love my wife, and how correct she is that the only way to improve our lives the best way possible is to include God. I am so blessed! This is my favorite time of life so far!

Road Trip 2011

Holy Smokes,

Time flies when you are having fun doesn't it?  I promise to be more diligent at keeping up with this blog.  We have not even thought about it much since we created it.  I think it is time for a few stories that date before our wedding.  A few thoughts, and perhaps a picture.

Ashley and I met when my friends invited me to go golfing.  For some reason we ended up going to an activity at their bishops house, and I tagged along.  Ashley was there, and we all introduced ourselves (mostly for my benefit, as I was the only one out of place...) but Ashley said she liked to sing, and that she had fake teeth.  When it was my turn, I felt like I should chime in and tell everyone that I had fake teeth also, and that I sang in the University Choir at General Conference.  We had a very brief conversation after the activity, and that was it for our first meeting.  I thought for sure she was too cute to be single, and so I didn't pursue things much.  

A few nights later, the guys asked me if I wanted to go out with some girls again.  Not being completely anti-social I decided that it might be fun to grab a bite to eat with some new people and make a few new friends.  Ashley was there, and so I gladly bought her dinner... little did I know that she hated red meat.  I had a big bloody rare cooked steak.  I practically forced her to have a few bites, but was very glad when she said I could eat the rest.  We have a very funny story to post on a later date with the details of our beginnings... so I am going to fast forward.  

I took Ashley home with me in August of 2011.  I knew I really liked this girl, and I felt something special with her, but my family is crazy, and I needed to know if she could handle them before I revealed ANY of my intentions to Ashley.  We went home with Scott Donald Cooper and Brady James, 2 of our most dear friends, and we had a blast.  We went ice bathing in Red-Rock Canyon, and Scott and I ran a triathalon.  It was a fun trip.  We really had a chance to get to know each other, and my family LOVED Ashley.

Ashley and I planned our wedding, and she started school at Paul Mitchell in Rexburg.  We have had many laughs, and many great stories that we will share with you.  This was just a reminder to me that we have not been keeping this up to date.  The above pictures are from our Road Trip 2011 to Canada, and the ones below are a few engagement pictures, and our first house we lived in.  We love you all, and hope you enjoy our life story as we tell it!

J&A

New Beginnings!

Welcome to the good life.  On December 30, 2011 I married the love of my life.  We have been married almost 2 full weeks now, and we wanted everyone to be able to share in our happy new life together.  We will post photos, and updates of our happenings as the come.  This is just a preview, but look forward to our story, and reasons why married life is THE BEST.  This is one way we can show everyone we love that we appreciate them by keeping you all informed.