Looks Like We Made It

I woke up on May 22nd ecstatic to marry my best friend....finally! And I get that same feeling everyday I wake up next to him. What a fun ride our first year has been. I hope the future holds as much craziness as the past year has.

5.22.10

May?

So it's May here and still chilly, rainy, and windy. Get me out of here to warmer weather. Even with the bad weather Jess and I have kept ourselves out and about and busy. He was made Elders Quorum President on Sunday. We cleaned up the cemetery for a service project on Saturday and on Monday we cleaned the church. I only anticipate more church functions than normal with this new calling, but it's nice to have tons of service options to give us the "pick me up" we need each week. I watched the Justin Bieber movie last night.....Heaven! And I blasted his songs on the computer as I cleaned the apartment this morning. Yes I'm still on the job hunt. I got a job yesterday and quit yesterday. CLASSIC. I committed to the job and then realized when I got home what terrible hours, pay, and days it would be. So I dodged that bullet and now I'm on the search again. I'm currently reading The Art of Racing in the Rain and it has surprised me at how great it is. It captured me from the beginning. I'm counting down the days until The Bachelorette starts (6) and So You Think You Can Dance (9). So all in all I'm finding the simple things in life occupying of my time and soaking up togetherness with the hubs.

P.S. our one year is this weekend and we have no official plans. I don't understand what the hype is about anniversaries...especially the first few. I don't think we should be celebrating that we made it one year that's kind of pathetic, but we will go with tradition and party til we drop. I guess it is another excuse to eat out and spend money we normally wouldn't. I mean being married 20,30,40,50 years now that's something to celebrate. To be honest, it's easy to be married to your best friend. Now we will have to see what the weekend has in store for us. Cheers to one year down eternity to go.

Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down

That song is so appropriate for a day like today. It's a Monday and it's raining, but I'm not feeling the blues about it because yesterday I got to talk to my little brother, Travis. My family at home, Travis, and Jesse and I were able to do a three way Skype. Travis looked great and sounded even better. We were able to talk for about an hour and get the scoop on his mission in Chile. He was eating dinner at a family's home and they adore Travis (who doesn't?). He sounded so upbeat and loves where he is at. Talking to him boosted my spirits and I'm still on a "happy high" from hearing how amazing my brother is doing. Some highlights from the conversation were that his bunk collapsed on his companion below him one night (classic), the police there are only allowed to shoot criminals with bean-bags there, they eat chicken everyday that are boosted with steroids so Trav says the kids that are 12 there look like they are 20, and Chileans love the English, Americans, and themselves. It sounds like a beautiful country and a beautiful culture.

Trav and I wearing our matching leather jackets

And a birthday shout-out to my bff, Megan Loar! I don't know if our friendship consists of anything else but laughter and that's why I love her. She is simply a true friend. Love you Meggy Baby!

Wonderful Mothers

Jesse and I are so fortunate to have been raised by strong, loving mothers who have taught us the gospel and are solely responsible for who we are and where we are today. I can't say enough about our mothers. Jesse has a unique bond with his mom being the baby of the family, and I have a unique bond with my mother being a girl and the oldest in the family. I am grateful that Jesse and I have learned how to have a realistic, healthy, and loving marriage through the examples of our mothers.

Everyone knows my mom is my best friend. Always has been always will be. I'd rather be hanging out with her than anyone else. Through observing my mom for 23 years she has taught me to treat people with compassion, to become more loving, to take responsibility, to be honest, to try my best, and to not sweat the small stuff. I know motherhood has thrown her a few curve balls with raising four kids, but my siblings and I are all exceptional people (if I do say so myself) with strong values and testimonies of Christ. We know who we are and have a strong sense of self worth. The greatest accomplishment I have seen my mom achieve is making each of us feel individually special and instilling self worth in each of us and because of this we each know we are a son and daughter of God. That, to me, is the hardest task a mother has in raising her children.

My mother-in-law has raised Jesse to be honest, ambitious, respectful, hard working, and a worthy priesthood holder. What more could I ask for. Observing Jesse and his mom's relationship over the last few years has been a treat. She is always a listening ear for him and a voice of advice in all that he does. She is interested in what we do and is always there for us.
"One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one."

- Thomas S. Monson

I'm eternally thankful for my mother and Jesse's mother. Happy Mother's Day!

Cinco de Mayo

Yesterday was cinco de mayo and what better way to celebrate then with a fiesta. We had a bunch of friends over to BBQ and the weather ended up being perfect. We had fajitas, carne asada, chips, salsa, seven layer dip, and the works. We enjoyed our food and each others' company on the front lawn. Then we all went and played kickball at the park and then back to our place for ice cream. It was a perfect day because I got my three favorite things all at once: family, friends, food.

Earlier that day Jess and I played around with the soccer ball in the yard. Later I laid on a blanket and read for a bit and basked in the sun. I'm so happy the sun finally decided to grace Utah with its presence. Hallelujah!

Jesse and Andrew BBQing

The guests:

Kira, Jackie, me

Day Dreaming

The date is set and my hopes are up. The annual Conley family river trip is set for the end of July and I'm wishing we could pack our bags now and go. Jesse is in school until August so we aren't likely going to make it this year, but it is fun to dream about past years. I'm missing 120 degree weather, the water being the only escape from the heat, the boys' double knee-board competition, jumping off the tower, floating down the river, pool tournaments, around the world (ping-pong), volley ball, bad-mitten, shell island, and lots of laughter intermingled with loads of chaos. It's a known fact that my Conley side of the family has a bundle of cousins all relatively the same age and we are uniquely close and this river trip is the peak of our togetherness.

All the cousins on shell island 2010

Out and About

This weekend has been just what I needed after being cooped up in the apartment for the week. I'm almost over my sickness completely and ready to get out and find a grown-up job. Yes I graduated with an elementary education degree....no there are not many job opportunities in this field currently....so I gotta do what I gotta do to be the sugar mama for Jess while he gets through school. Friday Jesse worked for event staff at women's conference. He stood right next to Nienie and her hubby and what does he have to show for it? nothing! He didn't take a picture with her because he said he was working. I'm so disappointed that he was being so professional when he knows what a big fan I am of hers. What an amazing Kodak moment that could have been. While J was working I was out thrifting, which I may or may not have an addiction to. I definitely take after my aunt Sue. I love the great finds. Anything from books to little trinkets to quirky fashion pieces. After work Jess and I went and saw Just Go With It. That movie had us laughing the whole time. Saturday Jess made me yummy French toast with strawberries and bacon. HEAVEN! Then we went to the BYU rugby game which was so intense. Later that night we went out to dinner with Jesse's old mission companion and his wife. After dinner we went and saw The Adjustment Bureau with them, which was a fantastic movie. This weekend was filled with many highlights that kept me distracted from the rage I could of felt with the fact that it snowed twice this weekend.

Enjoying the rugby game