2013 in Review...

So it may be January 20th, but I am finally getting around to reviewing my last year (it takes a lot of thought to remember everything great that happened in an entire year). So here we go!

SCHOOL:

Placed first in a 48 hour design competition

Presented my senior project in the Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research

Graduated from college!

TRIPS I TOOK:

Jackson Hole Wyoming Ski Trip

Moab Climbing Trip

Havasu, Arizona

Lake Powell

Tuacon Theater with the fam

Midnight Wendover Trip

BOOKS I READ:

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Anne of Green Gables

Pride and Prejudice

Beowulf

War and Peace books 1 and 2

War of Art

The Five Love Languages

EVENTS I WENT TO:

101 Inventions at the Leonardo

Utah's First Annual Comicon

BYU football game

Real Salt Lake game

Tulip Festival

Havasu, Arizona Collegiate Triathlon Championships

Races:

color me rad

Other:

Started a rocking new job as an interior designer at VCBO Architecture!

Moved to Sugarhouse

Went on many trips to 7 Peaks

Had the BEST halloween costume

Celebrated Jake's 30th

Went to my first drinking party (we watched...and then left early)

and learned to longboard.

It has been an incredible year with so many exciting changes! I am loving where I am at and look forward to more adventures :-)

Masquerade Party....

For our work Christmas party this year...

The theme was a masquerade ball to be held on Friday the 13th.

So we bought our masks...

Got our selves dressed up...

...and we mingled. We laughed. We ate dinner. We danced. And we had a wonderful night.

Quick Photo Update...

A few people have pointed out that I haven't blogged in awhile... And although I hate to admit it, it's the truth. I was sooo good all year - I don't know what happened. So here is a quick photo update (with captions) of the most recent adventures...

Relaxed and played some pool.

Ran in the Color Me Rad race with the boy and set a new 5K PR for both of us.

Went to Comicon. What a hoot.

Spent a Sunday afternoon at the park reading.

Tapped into our creative side with some pottery painting.

Got new shelves and a nice sofa for the living room.

Went to Cornbelly's and played in the corn (if you have children and have never taken them here it's one of the best October Carnivals I've been too. So family friendly)

Went to lunch with these cute girls I haven't seen since graduation.

Enjoyed the warmth of southern Utah with the fam.

And finally, enjoyed two glorious half pound cups of Reese's peanut butter.

V-J Day...

Here's to Halloween and the end of War War II!

One Year Wiser... But that's it.

 I'm not allowed to mention who's birthday it was recently. Or how old he turned. In fact, we weren't even allowed to celebrate. I obeyed these requests with respect... see for yourself...

Just us have dessert with a few friends - clearly not a celebration.

Sticky rice with mangos. A Thai delicacy. A unique dessert - but not for celebration of course.

A test drive on a newly remodeled motorcycle. But obviously not for any sort of celebration.

As you can see, Jake and I had a fun filled weekend just like any other weekend with no mention of a birthday and no celebrating of any kind....

The End of Summer...

The hardest part about Labor Day is saying goodbye to the long days, warm nights, and outdoor adventures of summer... Jake and I made sure we experienced every last minute of the long weekend with a few of our favorite things...

1. slurpees and a midnight walk...

2. cooking our favorite breakfast together - eggs in a basket...

3. 7 Peaks and the Boomerang. This ride gets both of us screaming every time...

4. expensive, greasy amusement park food on a park bench people watching...

5. an outdoor dinner with family to celebrate mom's birthday...

6. A run around and around and around Sugarhouse Park with the boy that pushes my pace...

7. take-out and a late night movie with friends...

8. one last camping trip at our favorite place... Logan Canyon...

9. miniature golf in the rain followed by a warm breakfast and hot chocolate...

and...

10. an afternoon relaxing with a nap, strawberries dipped in homemade fudge sauce, and laughing until we were crying (when you're already laughing pretty hard and then Jake gets the hiccups so he starts squeaking between laughs there is no stopping the hysteria).

I'm putting this one on the list for the best Labor Day weekend yet...

A Break and a Boat...

Words cannot describe the joy I experience every time I visit Lake Powell - so I'll let these pictures do the talking...

What a wonderful break from busy lives we all lead and a way for the soul to rejuvenate - aside from the lost cell phone... that's not very rejuvenating. It's probably on its way to the bottom of the lake...

The people and the laughs, the views and the sunrises, the HOUSEBOAT with a HOT TUB on top!, and the relaxation in such a gorgeous and unique place make these trips some of my favorites...