So Long Summer

Dear Summer, Sadly the time has come to bid farewell to you. We hate to say good-bye, but unfortunately it is a must. We loved your hot days filled with fun activities like hiking, swimming, fireworks and fishing. We loved barbeques and ice cream. We had so many fun trips that we enjoyed in your beautiful weather: Bear Lake, Wolf Creek, Las Vegas, San Diego, the cabin and probably more that we can't remember. We enjoyed evenings filled with softball games, golf, parties with family and friends, and simply relaxing at home (especially once our swamp cooler was working properly). Thank you for bringing all these great things with you each year. We will miss you as we go our separate ways, and will be anticipating our reunion next year. Thank you again for all the fun memories, we will be working on blogging them all so we can look back during the bitter cold of winter. Until next year... With Love, Cameron and Jessica

One year ago yesterday

July 28th, 2008 was a pivotal day in my life. I was asked a very important question, one that would change my life in the absolute best way possible. Cam proposed to me up above the Bountiful Temple and it couldn't have been more perfect or beautiful. I had my suspicions about it happening that night, but he did a good job of keeping me guessing. I knew he wouldn't propose with anyone else around (per my request) so to trick me he told me we were going to go read scriptures with his friend Kevin and his cousin Brooke. So after ice cream from Dairy Queen (our favorite) we headed up to a specific place that has special meaning to him and that he had taken me to when we first started dating. The entire way, I was checking his pockets for a ring box (I'll admit I didn't totally believe him) ...little did I know that it was in Brooke's purse (smart thinking babe) As we got to the top, Brooke conveniently had "forgotten" her scriptures so Kevin accompanied her to retrieve them. So I started to get even more suspicious, but since she left her purse I was figured it was not a set up and that they really would be back. So Cam and I started reading where we had left off the last time we had read. I kept listening to see if he sounded nervous, but he didn't! (I just couldn't stop my wondering!) As we discussed a particular scripture he asked me what word stuck out and I said "sincerity" so we talked a little about it and then he had me turn to the back for more clarification. It seriously took me forever, but as I turned to the right page a picture of the ring I had chosen was placed next to "sincerity". I was right! It was going to happen that night! To back up a little, Cam had tricked me by taking me to see the ring I had chosen and having the salesman, after searching for it, tell me it must have been sold and it would take several weeks to get it in. So when I saw the picture, I figured he was just going to propose without it. He said he wanted to get me the ring I wanted and I said I didn't mind waiting. But as he turned to get on one knee he grabbed the ring box out of the purse and opened up and said, "But there's no reason to wait because I have it right here" and then my mind was reeling and I don't really remember what he said (crazy how that is don't ya think?) until he asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes! (obviously) and there it all began. After that we sat and talked about how much we were looking forward to being married in the beautiful temple we were overlooking. So Cam, I just want to say thank you for asking me that very special question one year ago. It was the best decision I ever made and I couldn't have never imagined how wonderful our life together would be. The way you did it was simple and perfect and it couldn't have been better. Also, I'm sorry that when I tried to surprise you by taking you up there last night to celebrate the anniversary of our engagement...I didn't even think of the lights on the temple not being on. Since when do they ever not turn the lights on? But, I still loved just walking around that beautiful building with you and thinking about all the things that have happened since you put this beautiful ring on my finger just one short year ago...wow, how it has flown by. I love you babe!

It's a Miracle!

I just have to actually document this moment because there is a good chance it may never, ever happen again. I just want it put on the books that this, the 22nd day of July 2009 I, Jessica, actually beat Cam at something! We played Tiger Woods golfing on the Wii tonight for the first time and I actually won! I know this may not seem like a big deal at all to anyone else, but to me this is a monumental moment. You see, my dear husband seems to be able to beat me at anything we compete against each other in and I am convinced he could somehow find a way to beat me at anything we ever try in the future. It could be something as stupid as underwater basket weaving and he would win. He says I would still beat him in a baking contest, but I really think he would find a way to win. So I just wanted to make sure this moment in history is recorded because, like I said, it probably won't ever happen again! So until the next competition...I will be basking in all my victorious glory! Now if you will excuse me....I must get back to my victory dance!

Words Cannot Express

Words cannot express the feeling of relief I had after finishing cleaning our extra bedroom. It had become the storage dumping ground and I had been putting off organizing it for sometime. I had been waiting and waiting for the perfect time (which never came) and consequently it had gotten much worse over the past few months. I finally had had it with worrying about it and being so incredibly embarrassed whenever someone would go in there so I decided to finally put fear aside and face the beast. I was so excited when it didn't take nearly as long as I was thinking it would! I find myself just wanting to keep the door open and slipping in there just to enjoy the clean open space. Who knew we had so much carpet underneath all that junk! Now we are just trying to find a fun way to use the extra space (besides putting a baby in it) any ideas?

That was supposed to be a compliment...

So tonight Cam and I made chocolate chip cookies and it reminded me of a story that happened right after we got married.

It was a Sunday just like tonight and we were going to Cam's parents for dinner and I wanted to take something to share. We hadn't really stocked our pantry yet so all I really had was a chocolate chip cookie mix.

To preface...If you know me, you may know how much I just love making cookies. I love everything about it... but I absolutely love mixing them up and have since I was a little girl. So this means that I love making them from scratch because its just that much more mixing-up fun that I get to do. Since mixes don't allow as much of that, I don't use them very often. I am also very picky about how they look and try so hard to make them pretty and I can hardly explain the excitement I get when they both taste delicious and look scrumptious as well...I know, I'm a little crazy :)

Being the sweet husband that he is and knowing all the things I just told you, Cam woke up from his nap (so he hadn't seen that I had made them from a mix) and took one off the plate and said..."These are the best ones you have ever made". Can you imagine his confusion when he saw my face fall into a frown instead of light up with a smile at his compliment? I laughed a little and simply said "Thanks... they were from a mix". Again, knowing how obsessive about making the things I bake absolutely perfect, he did a good job at making me feel better by saying that my cookies taste better and that he was just going by the looks of them and on and on.... I decided not to take it personally and we laughed about it, but of course I love to still tease him about it.

Fun Trip/ Bad Traveling Habits

This weekend we made a quick trip to San Diego for one of Cam's mission companion's wedding. It was both our first time to San Diego and we were especially excited to be able to go to the temple. Everyone always says how beautiful it is and we were anxious to see it first hand. Just as we were promised the temple was beautiful. The ceremony was of course wonderful and we just loved being there with quite a few of Cam's mission buddies.

The day started off a little stressful because when Cam turned his phone on just after landing, he had a text from the guy that was supposed to pick us up saying that he wasn't going to make it. Just a little frustrating especially because it wasn't a good reason but what can you do right? After finding someone else to pick us up we were able to barely make it to the temple on time. We had to fly in our sunday clothes because there wasn't going to be any time to change in between.

We had fun spending time with all the friends in between all the festivities. We were able to experience In-n-Out Burger for the very first time as well. So Yummy! I was worried I would feel outnumbered because of all the guys but I had a lot of fun getting to know a couple of their girlfriends and it ended up being so great they were super cute and fun to talk to. I especially loved talking one of their mom's who made the wedding cake. She does wedding cakes and catering just for fun and I learned a couple tricks that I can't wait to try!

Cam and I don't have very good traveling habits. We kinda just fly by the seat of our pants and figure things out like a hotel and transportation once we are there, we just like it best that way. This trip wasn't any exception which explains why we had to spend the night at the luxurious Motel 6. Definitely not a first choice but much better than sleeping on the streets I suppose. Believe it or not, it still cost $101! Can you believe that? A hundred dollars to sleep in a bed with a disgustingly ugly bedspread (it reminded us of what you see just before you are going to throw up), towels that don't match and are so small I don't know how you would even get dry and hearing the planes coming in all night because we were right under the flight path just before landing and to top it off...no breakfast! Despite all that we were happy to have a place to sleep and are just crossing our fingers that we didn't catch any weird diseases.

The next morning found out that they had an airport shuttle, but it cost $5 per person. Did they not just make plenty of money off of us? I guess we were still feeling a little bad about paying that much for our crappy hotel so we decided to not fork over any more money and just hit the road using our feet for what they were made for. I'm pretty sure it was illegal to be walking on the side of the highway like that, but we didn't get hit by any cars or arrested and made it the 2.5 miles to the airport in just enough time to board the plane.

I guess when you have dragged a suitcase that either is way more than it was ever made to carry, has a broken handle, feels like the wheels are going to pop off at any second or is going to split open at any time through streets and subways of New York, Ft. Lauderdale, Paris and London (in the rain), Walking a couple miles in the sunshine with a small backpack doesn't really seem like a big deal (or worth $10).

It may be a little crazy, but we really like our traveling style, it makes things really exciting! I think we will be ready to go on the Amazing Race any day! Maybe when little ones come along we will need to plan a little more ahead, but until then, we will continue with our unplanned and disorganized traveling!

A Spiritual Weekend

A couple of weekends ago Cam's cousin Brandon was baptized. This baptism was especially exciting because Brandon is 14 years old. Some of Brandon's family are members, but inactive and since he started living with his wrestling coach in Springville, he has gained his own testimony and really has been converted and we are so excited for him. Cam is really close to Brandon and calls him his little brother. They share the love of wrestling and have a lot of fun wrestling whenever they get together. Cam has been someone that Brandon has talked to about the church and has been a great example to Brandon and that is why Brandon asked him to Confirm him. Cam was really flattered that he would ask and very excited to be able to have the opportunity. On saturday Cam went down to the baptism with his parents and sister (I wasn't able to go) and he said it was one of the most spiritual baptisms he had been to. Then on Sunday morning we drove down for the confirmation. The confirmation was beautiful and I really enjoyed getting to be there for Brandon as well as being there to hear Cam confirm him. It made me so grateful to have the priesthood in my home and made me excited for when we get to have the same experience with our own kids. I'll take a chance to say thank you to Cam for honoring his priesthood and for being such a great leader in our home. He is such a great example to me and helps me to want to be better all the time. After dinner with the family we quickly drove back to Bountiful for my brother to be ordained an Elder which was also very exciting. I am impressed by the good choices he is making and am excited for him and the experiences he will have by holding that Priesthood. It was a very spiritual weekend and we enjoyed every minute of it!