Engaged Life Thus Far

We have had a pretty busy life since we got engaged. We spent the weekend after we got engaged in Boise. The weekend after that we headed down to Utah. We stopped in Logan first for Mark's family reunion. We had dinner and celebrated his dad's birthday, which included delicious cheese cake. We also played the Newly Wed game with his parents and married siblings that were there. Kirk got to MC. Mark and I won! His parents were next closest to winning.

On Saturday morning we went ring shopping because Kirk works at the Diamond Gallery in Logan (during the school year.) We found a ring that I quite liked so we went ahead and ordered it.

Then we went and took family pictures. It decided to rain on us so it made things a little interesting, but things turned out pretty well.

After that we took off and headed for South Jordan to visit my family since Grammy and Kadie and her family were there. When we got to South Jordan we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. It was nice to go through with family, it is a very beautiful, peaceful place. Mark and I decided that it would be our first pick for where to get married. That night the girls went to Maddie's dance recital. Mark and Pete stayed home with the kids. Sunday we spent relaxing and enjoying one another. On Monday I attempted to work from home, then the girls went dress shopping. It was fun to try on some very pretty dresses. We also celebrated Mom's birthday with trifle and presents. After that it was time to head back to Boise.

The next weekend we went on trek with our singles ward. We went a couple hours north of Boise, a little past McCall. We were split into "families" (of about 7-8 people.) Mark and I were in the same "family" which was nice. We made dinner in dutch ovens that night (which didn't get done until about 10:30.) The next morning we got up, put on our most attractive pioneer outfits, loaded up our hand carts and we were off. Another addition that we got to our family was a rice baby (which we named Jasmine, as in Jasmine rice) which someone always had to be holding, no putting the baby down. We ended up going 16+ miles that day, it was a lot of walking and handcart pulling/pushing. We were happy when we got to our destination. It definitely gave me a new appreciation or what the pioneers went through to make it to Salt Lake.

On Tuesday the 30th we went on a bike ride. This was not just any bike ride, this was my first attempt at mountain biking. I was a pretty wussy. We will have to try again, hopefully I will get better.

The next weekend we went back down to Utah. This time we went to South Jordan first. On Friday we went to the temple open house again, and then to the museum at Hill Air Force Base with my Mom, Maddie, Kadie, Pete, Nate, Ella and Grammy. It was fun to look at everything (lots of engineering in there), Mark had never been either, so I think he especially enjoyed it.

Next on the agenda was more dress shopping. We also did some fireworks and had s'mores in the back yard. Kadie and her family headed back home super early the next morning (July 4th.) It was fun to see them. The kids are definitely growing up!

Mark, Mom, Maddie, and I went up Big Cottonwood Canyon and hiked to Donut falls and then we went to Solitude to play a round of disc golf. It was fun to be out in the woods. Mark beat us all by a long shot, but Maddie did improve quite a bit during the game. I think the favorite hole was the last one, it was something like 1028 feet long (it was pretty steep.) Mark got to the bottom in two throws, it took Maddie and I about ten. After golfing Mark and I went to Mark's Aunt's house in Herriman for his Grandpa's 80th. There was food and story telling. I also got initiated into the family (his grandpa likes to nibble on ears.) While we were at the party I also got my new ring, I was very excited to get it. It is very pretty. I love it (and Mark :) .) (And don't worry, we had already taken the other one back. So no, I do not have two rings.)

We stopped in Huntsville on our way up to Logan to watch fireworks with Mary and Isaac.

Sunday morning we took engagement pictures up Logan canyon. There are lots of good pictures. (Thanks Clark!) Then we went to church and ate dinner (complete with strawberry shakes), and headed back to Boise.

I also did some dress shopping in Boise. I found a dress that I super like. I would post a picture, but then Mark would see it, and that is not allowed.

This weekend Mary, Isaac and Lincoln came to visit. On Friday we made yummy Thai food, played a game (Carcassone), and watched a movie (Knowing). On Saturday we played disc golf down town, had a picnic and floated the Boise river. Lincoln did pretty good floating the river. We invited Peter and Anne and their boys over for dinner and games that night. We had Mark's specialty, pizza, and played power grid which Mark won.