More pics...

I added some of our engagement pics to our wedding blog so if you're, for whatever reason, itching to see a few more you can click here.

I can hardly believe I'm saying this...

...but I don't absolutely loathe swimming anymore!

I loved swimming as a child.

I swam on a pre-comp. team and like it ok.

I swam competitively for 4 years in high school and hated it.

I played water polo for 2 years in college (after playing for 2 in high school) and loved it...but it involved a lot of swimming...which I didn't love.

I basically haven't swam much since.

I really hate the dry-to-wet and wet-to-dry transitions and I hate always smelling like chlorine...even after several thorough showers. When dry, you are like a scratch a sniff sticker...just a little drop of water on your skin and you reak like a pool. I also hated my coach...sorry...but I did...he was a bit of a jerk.

Adam has been getting into swimming more and more and I decided to join him on Saturday morning. This is when I learned that I no longer hate swimming. It is a little dull but it's also kind of refreshing. I really enjoyed myself. I got a good work out and helped Adam a little with his stroke technique (sidenote: I've never been an amazing swimmer but I learned while coaching Logan's HS swim team that I am a rockin' stroke coach).

I am shocked. I thought I hated the dumb sport...turns out I just hate jerks, not being able to breath, and pain. Welcome back to my life, swimming, it's sure been a while.

Our House...

...is a very very very fine house!


Adam and I have been on the house search for what seems like forever. Today, we closed on this beauty in UC (I know...UC...crazy!). It is completely lovely. I think it is so charming and I love everything about it. We are both so excited (and nervous) about all the major changes happening in a short period of time (house, marriage, etc.).

Our house is new construction but is a bit dusty from being empty for a spell...so I'll be doing some cleaning before any moving is done. I've never been more excited to wipe down walls, mop floors, and vacuum in my entire life. I am so jazzed to clean this house! After I've sufficiently tidied the empty house, we will start moving Adam in...I anticipate this happening in 2 or 3 weeks from now. Then I move in upon our wedding in 2 months! Hazzah!

We also got our engagement pics back. They are fantastic. I haven't had time to post much about them but there's a sampler in the banner above. For a few more pics visit Carlye's photography site (portfolio - engagements). She did a swell job. Thanks again miss!

In Mourning...

I was in the madrigal group my senior year of high school. I realize high school is in the past (5 years...it doesn't seem like that long ago though) but "mads" was a big part of my life and that sort of thing kind of stays with you. I don't claim any sort of superb musical ability...especially in the vocal realm...but I have always really enjoyed singing. I wasn't a great singer in high school but I was decent. I improved during my Freshman year of college but have never been magnificent. A couple years ago, I had two incidences (tonsillectomy and a neck injury)...one of these...possibly both...altered my singing voice long term. Again, it wasn't amazing to begin with but my tone has changed and I have difficulty controlling my pitch...voice sometimes cracks or woibles sort of (like a pubescent boy).

...so there's the background story.

I got home tonight and my parents were sorting through the little tapes of the siblings' various activities and labeling everything. I found the tape for my madrigal showcase. Our showcase was awesome. It was totally entertaining to watch and it was probably my best high school solo ever. Naturally, I wanted to watch it. After about half an hour everything went blue. There was nothing else on the tape and a second tape was nowhere to be found. I know the entire showcase was recorded because I had seen it several times...now it's gone. It might have been lost, accidentally erased or taped over. Either way, a snippet from a significant high school experience is no longer. I was bummed. It's silly and shouldn't matter...and really it doesn't too much...but I would much rather have that than a swim meet or a piano recital. Perhaps it's because my voice will never be the same...it would be nice to have proof that I wasn't so bad...just wish the tape wasn't MIA.

A weekend full of family fun

I know...I only post about our weekends anymore. This one was so full!

Over the weekend, we got to spend time with a whole lot of family. It was such a busy weekend and we had hardly any down time but it was good to see everybody and experience some of the things we did.

On Friday, we drove to Provo to attend Adam's cousin's wedding reception. We spent time with Adam's dad, Kyle, and members of that side of the family (who we don't see enough). We also got some salsa dancing in as the bride was Latina and most of the music reflected that. We planned to hang out with Brian & Megan after the reception but we stayed much later than anticipated (next weekend, aight?).

Saturday was an amazing day. I spent most of the morning doing dress fittings with my mom. My dress is coming along and looking great. We then loaded up headed back to UC where my cousins, Hayden & Caleb, were to be baptized. Their stake center is in Midway (such an adorable town) so we had some driving to do. While all baptisms are lovely, this one was particularly special because Hayden & Caleb asked Adam & Jacob to baptize them. What an incredible honor! It was really nice of their parents to give Adam & Jacob such an awesome opportunity and Adam & Jacob were thrilled about it. It was such a touching event all around. There were two speakers. One was an aunt from the other side of the family. The other was a man from Gahna whose parents looked after Hayden & Caleb and informed Patti & Eric about them. Grandfathers witnessed the baptism. Eric confirmed both boys. Then each boy bore their testimonies. It was so great. Their parents...and the majority of the room...had tears in their eyes. It was so special and so powerful and I am so grateful Adam & Jacob (each of whom I am very close to...in different ways obviously) the opportunity to be such a big part of it.


We then hung out with good old Kevis for a bit and enjoyed ice cream at the W.

Sunday morning was spent with Adam's mom's side of the family. We attended his nephew's baby blessing...Max is such a sweet little baby. We took Alyvia to the blessing because her dad, Tyson, was unable to come. It was her first time at church and she did as well as a 2 1/2 year old could be expected to do...not so great. She was plenty good but had a hard time being quiet and didn't understand why we were opposed to her running around...all the other children got to after all. After sacrament meeting, we spent a lot of time with Alyvia and Katelyn. What a fun, exciting, tiring weekend!