I Make Things!

I always wished I had more time to make things! And now I do! For a little bit until things pick up...

Here are some things I've made:

Dehydrated fruit! So all I had to do was cut it up and put it in but I'm excited to eat it with granola and stuff!!

Even the cutting it up wasn't hard because we have a corer/ slicer and it was AWESOME! I could use it on the apples, pears, and plums!!

We also have a juicer!! It makes yummy juice and spits out the pulp...

Which I used to make apple cinnamon muffins!!!

Jeff wondered if we could make applesauce and so I took him up on the challenge and BEHOLD!! Apple cinnamon sauce!!

Last night we had the sisters over and I made noodles with veggies and shrimp and homemade Fettuccine Alfredo!! It turned out great!!!

This one isn't edible but I made a dollar store wreath!! It does have fake grapes on it but... They're fake...

This s my first attempt at homemade bread! It turned out funky looking but yummy!! Next time the goal is to make it look as good as it tastes :)

This isn't really homemade as much as just awesome. I got us these little dishes that you put tortillas in and then stick them in the oven for like 5 minutes and they become tortilla bowls! We had veggie chicken salad in them and it was really good!!

Hopefully there will be more to come soon!!

Running a 5k!

The funny thing about being married is that you have someone there to help you stick to your goals.

Which means if you make a goal out loud... they will make sure you stick with it... even if one day you decide you don't want that goal anymore... because you're lazy...

I had decided that I want to get in shape. Jeff loves the idea of being healthy because it means your body will last longer! You can have good quality of life and you can have it when you're young and old! I like that idea... until I'm tired and lazy!

I told Jeff I wanted to run more and I started a couch to 5k program! It's been great! It pushes you but takes things one bit at a time so after 8 weeks you're running 35 minutes without stopping. A few weeks in Jeff came to me with a 5k that was happening at his school for research on the early detection of cancer. Just like most people, I've seen the effects of cancer of all kinds and was completely happy at the idea of contributing the money! And then there was the 5k...

The app I use!

This race fell 6 weeks into my 8 week 5k program so I knew I wasn't ready. For most people this is no big deal but those who know me well know that I have NEVER been into running! Short sprints at the most and that's mainly if something scary is coming after me (like a bee). In those cases I suddenly have the power too move at great speeds until said flying piece of nasty has ceased to follow me. But if there is no danger then there is no magical power!

So my goal for is 5k was not speed but endurance! I just wanted to not stop along the way! And after some mental games, some music and most importantly, some encouragement from my incredible husband, I did it! I didn't stop the entire time and while I was going at a pretty leisurely pace I finished it in 31 minutes and 8 seconds!

Here's to having husbands who make you stick to your goals! Now the goal is to get a faster 5k :)

Crag's Crest!

Jeff's parents took us on a great hike where you go up over a crest and have a beautiful view on both sides!

Jeff's parents grabbing a selfie!

Photos courtesy of Jeff!

Let it Begin!!

I'm married!!!

And to such a handsome guy!!

The wedding was BEAUTIFUL!! I had heard so many horror stories about wedding days and I just wanted things to go smoothly!! And they did!! The day was beautiful from the weather to the ceremony and we loved every minute of it! Seeing friends and family come to support us was so great!

Then there was an awesome honeymoon! The pictures are having a hard time posting but I'll get some figured out! 

We went and saw Penn and Teller, which was super funny, and Blue Man Group, which was also funny but SUPER WEIRD and Cirque de Soliel, which was especially cool because it was Michael Jackson themed!

PENN AND TELLER

BLUE MAN GROUP

CIRQUE DE SOLIEL

We also had a great time at The Aquarium and a beautiful Titanic Museum before heading down to the Grand Canyon (pictures to come)!!

And then the craziness set in! We went straight to Jeff's parent's house so he could do a two week rotation at a local clinic! His parents have been so nice to let us stay with them! For the weekend, the wanted to get out and enjoy the good weather:

So we went to Glenwood Springs!

And rode THIS!!

We did some cave exploring, some ziplining and some ice cream eating!

Then we finally had a few days in Denver so we went and saw John Legend at the Red Rocks Amphitheater!

It was rainy but NOT COLD so that was a miracle!!

Then we went back to Grand Junction for our open house which was BEAUTIFUL (pictures to come)!

From which I hopped in my parents car and went and met this adorable baby!

Baby Kaia Jewel Birch, born August 12, 2014

She burps, gurgles, growls and hiccups! It was so fun to spend the week with her!

Then I jumped on a plane back to Denver and woke up at 3 the next morning to hike my first 14er!

Mt. Bierstadt- almost kicked my butt but I kicked back and made it to the top! Probably only because Jeff was there to drag me along!

Then on Sunday it was back in the car and back to Grand Junction for our last two week stint here! 

Things have been CRAZY but awesome! And it's just getting started!!!!!!!!