Updates: A home and another wedding!

I knew that once I got back from Washington DC earlier this month, things we're going to be moving quickly. I began house-hunting the day after I flew back, and I went back to work (part-time). Although, the night before my flight home I was informed that my brother Tyler was getting married.

When I was told, there wasn't a date yet, and everything (both our future house and the wedding) was all very theoretical.

Yet, here we are, 2.5 weeks later and everything is in full swing. We found our dream starter home and are currently under contract, and Tyler's wedding is set for September 17 (this year, less than 2 months away).

Even I'm surprised at how fast everything is happening (although, given that it's my life I really shouldn't be surprised since things usually seem to happen all at once).

Anyway, I'm beyond excited that we are getting out of our apartment and into a place that I can truly make into a home for our family.

The best part? It's centrally located for our support network! Only 20 minutes from my work, 28min from Sam's work, 15min from my parents, 20min from Sam's cousins, 11min from Victoria, and 7min from Adam & Beth. Our inspection is Friday, and I can't wait to just be done with this process so we can start the next chapter for our little family!

Our 1yr Anniversary

Knowing that we've been married for a year just baffles me. I've lost all concept of time beyond a week.

Some of our adventures as a married couple have been:

• Our Honeymoon cruise in Alaska
• Sunday dinners with the Bostons in Daybreak
• Sunday dinners with the Jensens in West Jordan
• Three-Musketeers Dinner parties 
• Babysitting Max & Kate
• Being the Music Directors for church
• Dinners with the Smarts
• Learning Yoga
• Game nights at the Clyde's in Provo
• Walking to the grocery store
• Watching Star Wars (and the 'making of' documentary)
• Binge-watching season one of Once Upon A Time
• Restaurant-hopping all around Sugarhouse
• Watching Studio C every single Monday
• Embracing a clean-eating lifestyle
• The Idina Menzel Concert
• Thanksgiving in Arizona
• Christmas with the Larsens
• Jake & Alexa's wedding
• Joint FHE with the Littles
• Learning to make sushi
• Volunteering for the Science Olympiad
• Volunteering for the Outclimb Cancer Challenge
• Meeting Studio C and obtaining photo proof
• Sam's mission reunion in Logan
• Truman, the devil-child thesis that wouldn't die
• The pre-post-grad job hunt
• Graduation
• Subbing the 6yr-old Sunday School Class
• Our Hawaiian adventure

Seriously, I can't believe it's been a year when I felt like we just got married.

Happy Anniversary, my love! Here's to many, many more.

Ocean City continued, and July 4th in DC

 We went to the boardwalk on our last night in Ocean City and hit up a summer carnival on the pier.

Kate loves the 'poo' emoji

We went to brunch when we got back to DC at La Diplomat. 

I drew Kate on the tablecloth at brunch

I also drew Max

Our tourist photo at the Newseum

Twinsies!

I went to Georgetown on my last day and picked up some T-shirts for Sam and I at the bookstore. I also got to see Donald's office and roam the campus for a bit.

After Georgetown, I was able to go to the Holocaust Museum and the Renwick Gallery

Adventures in Ocean City

We went jet skiing and I was scared out of my mind! But I managed to figure it out and ride around for about an hour. I would have been willing to go faster than 20mph if I hadn't been so worried about accidentally tipped the thing over!

#totheMax and #MissL

Some really cool sand sculptures on the beach by the boardwalk. We also went to a little arcade where Max and Kate won a bunch of tickets and exchanged them for prizes.

We went to the beach at night with our glow sticks for a nightwalk.

Kayaking in the bay of Assateague Island. At one point, Max and I pretended we were pirates competing against the canoe that the others were paddling. I kept saying things like, "Arr, ye scurvy dogs! No one is faster than me, says I!"

Two wild ponies in Assateague, we kept seeing small clusters of them throughout the bay.

Ocean City Beach

So, I flew to DC a few days ago to spend some time with the Dunn's, and yesterday we left Bethesda and headed to Ocean City for a weeklong getaway.

It took a few hours to get there, but we made it in one piece!

We went to the beach today.

Max even found a dead Horseshoe crab, it started to stink after a few hours.

Yuck, it was like a creepy crawler from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer

Busy vs. Effective

Whoa! We've been back from Hawaii for only 11 days, and it already feels like so long ago!

It's been pretty busy for me, mostly because I was starting a brand-new job and my routine has yet to be established. It shouldn't feel as whirlwind-ed as it does, but that's the case.

Before, I would wake up at 6am every day, workout until 6:35, shower and/or get dressed, make my lunch, read scriptures with Sam at 7:20, talk for a few minutes, pray, and be to work by 8am. Take it I also had a 7-minute drive to work.

Now, I must clock in at 7:30am, which means I need to leave by 7:10 in order to ensure a timely arrival. I've been waking up at 6am as per usual, but that unfortunately means I haven't been working out.

Some may ask, a) why do you have to workout? or b) can't you just work out another time?

These are both questions to which I have great answers.

I need to workout. If I don't, my body starts to hurt, I feel weak, and generally I'm not as happy. I workout for my well-being, it keeps my anxiety in check and helps me sleep better.

So, why won't I workout after work? I am the master at talking myself out of things when I have other things to do. Also, I'm at my energy peak first thing in the morning, so it makes sense to workout when I'm at my strongest.

Anyway, as busy as I've felt, I'm seriously debating my effectiveness.

I know that the inevitable conclusion will be waking up earlier to guarantee my workout, but I'm not quite willing to commit to a 5:30am wake-up call all summer.

Also, once I arrive back at home after my workday has concluded, I've been binge-watching Gilmore Girls. I'm almost finished with season six! I've spent much of my free-time on Netflix, especially when we were in Hawaii and I had downtime.

I'm worried that my lack of structure in my free-time is negatively affecting my ability to be effective. Ergo, I have decided to attempt some structure and modify in order to give myself a better chance at being effective.

Before Work
Workout for 30 minutes
Scripture Study
Family Prayer

At Work
Get outside and walk for at least part of lunchtime

After Work
Enjoy 1hr of Netflix
Prepare dinner
Spend quality time with my husband

It seems silly (or even too simple), but writing it down has now made me more accountable for my choices in how my time is spent. I just know that I have a better chance at sticking with it in the long run if I do it this way.

Wish me luck!

Hawaii Trip 2016

My in-laws took us to Hawaii for their 30th anniversary and to celebrate my and Alexa's graduations. We stayed at a gorgeous resort in Ko Olina.

We went to the Arizona Memorial, a very sobering experience.

In a sweet twist of fate, I came across another girl who had the same tattoo as me! How cool that I went all the way to Hawaii to find a kindred spirit.

Apparently my Hawaiian name is Linekekei.

We went to the Polynesian Culture Center and Sam got an awesome tattoo that means 'warrior.'

Lisa's meant 'queen' and mine meant 'princess.'

There were man-made lagoons right outside our condo resort.

Even Sam's brother Max made it out to surprise Bob and Lisa.

Me and my sister-in-law Alexa

We were staying next to a Disney resort, so one day we went over so that Alexa could snap pics with the characters.

Since our flight home wasn't until 9pm, Sam and I stopped at the Byodo-In Japanese Temple on our way to the airport.

What a great trip! However, I'm super psyched to be back home. I have to recover before I leave in two weeks to go visit the Dunns in Washington DC.