A Boring Week

Well this week was quite boring - there's really not much in terms of stories, adventures, or pictures, so unless you want to hear the mundane you can quit reading (we won't be offended). Chris and I were both sick most of the week, but towards the end were able to get back to school and work. However, school and work were more than enough to drain our tired and healing bodies so we really didn't do much else.

But, some FUN news:
My drivers license came in the mail which means I am officially an Andrew now on my SS card, my drivers license, and bank cards - woohoo!

Other than that, well, let's see, we went to the temple and did sealings for the first time on Saturday. We've really been looking forward to this for a while. It was really neat...........and then I fainted. Then we left early. Then Chris worried a lot. Then I had the night off work so luckily I could rest. (Let us know if you want more details on this story - Chris is quite dramatic in his telling. Now he just laughs about it - the worry didn't last long.)

And I really can't think of anything else to say.

Except that Christ bought me flowers. Just because he loves me. Wow I love him. And these are the prettiest flowers that he's gotten yet (I've taught him well).

We promise to make next week's blogpost a little more exciting.

Remember to pray and remember to play,

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew

Valentine's Week

Well our post is very late this week - sorry. Shortly after all our fun valentine celebrations we both got hit with the plague and have been pretty useless for a while. Don't worry, it's not the measles. We're finally bouncing back though! Yee-haw!

Valentine's Week, yes it's a whole week not just one day, was spectacular. We had a lot of time to spend together and the weather outside was beautiful.

On Thursday we spent the whole day climbing up in Logan Canyon. Whenever we climb Chris has always "led" and I have always "followed." When he "lead climbs" he is placing protection in the wall as he goes (there are bolts in the rock every 6-10 feet to clip your rope into with carabiners), so when he climbs above his last bolt before he clips the next one, there is potential to fall 10-15 feet before the rope catches him. When I "follow" (also called "top-roping") the climb, the rope is already attached to the anchors at the top of the climb (hence the name top-roping), so if I fall I only drop a foot or two before the rope catches me.

Sum-up: lead climbing = scary. Top roping = not that scary.

Anyways...... that's all just a round about way to get you all really impressed with my bravery when I tell you that I lead climbed for the first time!

The route that I led wasn't as hard as the ones that Chris normally has us climb, but it was a really good one to lead for my first time considering how petrified I was at the thought of a real fall. All in all we were both thrilled with how it went and it was an awesome day climbing! (Primarily because I didn't actually end up falling). Oh! And Chris gave me my valentines gift that day - a chalk bag and new carabiner - for climbing of course. You know, sometimes I wonder if his "gifts" to me are really gifts to himself.....

Friday we decided to celebrate Valentine's Day because Chris had class all day Saturday morning and I had to work Saturday night, plus, if we want to get romantic Friday also happened to be our 2 month anniversary (or as Chris keeps track, two months since he's shaved). We started the morning off with a run in the canyon and then scarfed down some waffles covered in strawberries, whip cream, and bacon. What a perfect morning.

That evening we went out for Sushi.

We went to the Banff Mountain film fest - it made even us feel like we weren't at all outdoorsy.

And we went to Zeppes to get frozen gelata - it's frozen Italian soda and custard. Yum.

On Saturday Chris surprised me between class and work with some cupcakes from Temptation Cupcake. Honesty moment - I'm obsessed with cupcakes. They might be one of my favorite indulgences. They're even better than flowers because not only do they smell good and look pretty but they taste delicious! That's a whole lot of win in one little package! Second honesty moment - I'm pretty sure the real reason Chris got me cupcakes was to prove that he could surprise me because I guessed all his other surprises before he could give them to me (down to the color of the chalk bag and what we were ordering for dinner). He even told me he got the cupcakes because I was expecting flowers (which he originally had planned), so surprise, no flowers! I also gave him his valentines gift - two new carabiners for climbing and a total of 8 beard oil samples from 2 different suppliers. He's been trying them all out to figure out which one is his favorite.

Wow, writing out what we gave each other as gifts makes me realize how we're a really strange couple. Good thing we found each other: not that many people would get as excited as we do over things like carabiners, chalk bags, cupcakes, and beard oils.

Saturday night was when the plague hit Chris, I lasted until Monday morning. But there's not much to write about since then....

Remember to pray and remember to play,

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew

Exciting News

Well guys, we've sure enjoyed the first couple months of marital bliss. It's been really great being just the two of us and having time to grow as husband and wife. And, as we all know, life loves to throw twists and turns at you and our newlywed just-the-two-of-us-here-in-Logan lifestyle is about to change. This blogpost is dedicated to the exciting news that we wanted to share with our family and loved ones. We are proud to announce to you all that coming this summer......

well, rather than tell you here's a picture,

after all a picture is worth a thousand words, 

(and so is an ultrasound):

We're moving to Alaska!!!

Chris and I have the opportunity to spend the full summer working in Juneau side-by-side. We will be running the front desk and small restaurant at Grandma's Featherbed - the cutest little bed and breakfast - between all our hiking adventures and camping trips. After much prayer and deliberation, as well as a much needed conversation with the all-knowing Aunt Julie, we have decided that this is the best decision for us. We are so excited for this once in a lifetime opportunity to live in a beautiful place and work together for 4 months. We will be back in Logan for Chris to be in school fall semester, and are sure that the Lord has great plans for my future employment upon our return as well. We will keep you updated with the details as we continue to iron them out and as it gets closer to our summer time adventure. 

Remember to pray and remember to play,

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew

Chris's Birthday

This update is from me this week... sorry 'bout it.

Tuesday was my birthday and Dani made sure it was the best one yet. Monday night after her training shift at Texas Roadhouse and my evening class, we headed down to Grandpa and Grandma Hall's to stay the night. We were able to pick up our vacuum and bedsheets (the last wedding gift stragglers), grab a bookshelf for Naomi, and then we headed to SLC to go to the climbing gym. After last week's freeze-out while attempting to climb outside, Dani decided to get us day passes at Momentum so we could climb to our heart's content. How did I get such an awesome wife?

We drove back to Logan that night so I could get to my EMT class, but after class Dani surprised me with my favorite Texas sheet cake (and all 23 candles!), some climbing gear, and the best: a coupon book of massages. Did I mention how awesome Dani is?

Anyways, other than that we've been busy with work and school. Classes for me are going great, and Dani just finished her training at Texas Roadhouse! She's loving it so far and is looking forward to having a consistent schedule and making some good friends.

- Chris

A Wrap to Our First Full Month as Newlyweds

Can you believe it?! January is already over! It seems as though life is flying by, and we are just loving every second of this newlywed journey.

The good news for this week is that I got a new job! Subbing just wasn't working out as far as getting the hours and the money that we need, so I started looking for something else. This week I had my second interview at Texas Roadhouse, got hired, and went to orientation. I'm really looking forward to training this coming week. Chris and I really believe this is the best job for me and our family right now. All of his classes are in the evening as well as on Saturday, and as a server he also works nights and weekends. With the new schedule at Texas Roadhouse we will have similar schedules, and similar time off. Which means we can see each other more than to say goodnight and goodmorning!

Chris is still loving his classes and has been getting excellent scores on all his quizzes and exams so far. Having labeled posters of skeletons above our kitchen table and a bathroom mirror covered in post-notes full of EMT acronyms and definitions is really paying off. Just beware, if we see you anytime in the near future there's a good chance he'll have his stethoscope and blood pressure cuff and he will be ready to take your vitals.

On Friday we were able to have an AWESOME date day:

we went to get two doughnuts to celebrate the opening of Dunkin Doughnuts and ended up enjoying a full dozen (whoops...),

we braved the cold and tried to go climbing up at Betagraph in Logan Canyon,

I got to wear my new climbing shoes Chris got me for my birthday for the first time (LOVE them!),

but it was a little too cold for my hands so we spent a lot more time hiking around then actually climbing,

we went and explored the Hobbit Caves - also in Logan Canyon,

and we found a sweet mini-waterfall!

We had a great Sabbath day and are both loving our new ward. I am especially touched by the kindness of the Relief Society sisters. I am so grateful to be in a ward with women who are so strong, and I love hearing about their life experiences as well as their testimonies.

After church we had dinner with our friends Todd and Jame. It was great to be able to catch up and we were also way excited to break out our new grill to make some burgers! After dinner we came back home and had our friends Saren and Dallin over. They just got engaged this weekend, and we were glad to have an opportunity to celebrate with them. It was kind of fun pretending like we knew what we were talking about when giving them advice on being engaged, planning a wedding, and the whole married life. We had a lot of fun comparing stories and just laughing about how exciting and new this time of life is for both them and us.

Remember to pray and remember to play,

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew