Ha-WHY not?? Part 1

The post you've all been waiting for... HAWAII!  

Jonathon and I stayed in Maui the last week of November for our 5 year anniversary/free trip for buying our car!  Everything about it was incredible. It was the most perfect escape from all our hard work of the last few years. 

 Beautiful, perfect weather, perfect sun, perfect temperature, perfect relaxing spirit and attitude, kindness from all the islanders and workers, smiles everywhere. 

Me and my ancestor at the airport
(See our nostrils?)

Flying in

Finally here!!!! So happy!

Our clogged feet on the beach for our FIRST TIME!!!
all black. and all pink. :)

The hotel we stayed at the first night

Ricky - cute BRIGHT GREEN Parrot 

Lucy - Ricky's lover bird

Lovers in Maui - walking on the beach

So many beautiful flowers and colors

Flower Jonno put in my hair 

Add caption

"Kitty" who was always waiting to be loved
right outside the hotel

Trio of best friends
Robby, Jonathon, and Jeremy
(Ladies, the two on the outside are SINGLE!!) 

Susie and Bob
(my cute in-laws!)

Our amazing resort:
Kea Lani Fairmont 

Our "sweet" suite!

 

Multnomah Falls

My dad and his wife, April, and my little brother, Nolan, drove down from Seattle to visit us this weekend.  We went to Multnomah Falls in Oregon and then to dinner at Shari's after. It was lots of fun! 

Driving through the Gorge is BEAUTIFUL this time of year. All the trees and leaves are changing and look incredible. 

This is one small glimpse of what all of you get to do when you come visit! ;)  We love visitors!!

Happy 5 year anniversary

Happy 5 year anniversary!!

I love Jonathon so very much.  

I've never felt like I can properly express how happy he makes me.

He is the smartest, funniest, most kind, loving, genuine person I've ever known. 

He's been the biggest blessing in my life. I really didn't know a love and happiness like this could exist before meeting him. Seriously.

We are currently LIVING THE DREAMS we created at that time we were married five years ago. 

And it's been -AWESOME-!  

Looking forward to accomplishing the new goals we've set for our future as we enter our next phase of life together. 

:)

Just a few highlights that have happened since August 4, 2007:

-Jonno getting accepted into BYU (he went from BARELY graduating high school with a 1.67 to graduating in the top 15% of his Comms dept at BYU!!)

-Getting our first dog, Cosmo

-Living in Nancy's mom's basement the first year of marriage

-Nancy was accepted into dental hygiene school

-Having our first apartment in Murray (We loved that apartment!)

-Renting out our second bedroom to pay for tuition.. (Love ya Andy!) 

-Being car-less for a year (learning to ride the bus and ask for lots of rides - ugh that's a memory I'm glad is over with)

-"college jobs" (working weird jobs to earn enough money to pay for tuition each semester... Best Buy, Subway, refereeing lacrosse games, donating plasma, HP, Wachovia... ack!)

 -Nancy passed all her boards for DH school           

       -graduated Summa cum Laude from Utah College of Dental Hygiene

-Nancy got licensed as an official Dental Hygienist

-Nancy's first job out of school at: The Center of Dental Professionals with Dr. Rosander

then Dr. Ellis (love them!) and Dr. Williamson (ick)

-Nancy runs the Utah Valley Marathon

-Jonathon graduates in Communications from BYU

-Moved to Washington!

-Jonno gets his first "big boy" job at Sentry Insurance

-Jonathon gets his first REAL job at Underwriters Laboratories

-Our first new WORKING CAR!!!!! (We LOVE!!!!!)

-Plenty of church callings along the way

In some ways, it seems like we got married just yesterday. Then again, I feel like I can't even remember what my life was life before Jonathon was part of it. 

One thing that is nice about getting married so young is that we really got the chance to grow up together. I think this is what has allowed us to bond so strongly.

If there is one thing I value in this world, it is JONATHON and our marriage.  

First and foremost, always. 

I LOVE YOU, JONNO!!!!!!

August 4, 2007

Beacon Rock

Jonathon, Cosmo, and I hiked up Beacon Rock last month and it was awesome!

Beacon Rock is the center of an old volcano.
Lewis and Clark called it "Beaten Rock" and then changed it to  "Beacon Rock" later on.
Pretty cool hike- just one mile up!  

So gorgeous

Nancy n' Mo taking the lead

Cosmo found a little looking spot just his size!

At the top! (phew!)

So cute. And 'glowing' with his cute sweat beads. 

Wahoo!

Cutie Patootie taking a break

View from the top overlooking the Columbia River

             Heading back down

We went at about 8:30 at night so it was starting to get dark by the time we headed back to the car

 The ONLY bad thing about this hike was that apparently you need a "Discover Pass" to park there so we came back to a $99 ticket on our car  :( - that was disappointing. Oh well!  It was a fun night!

Nolan comes to Visit

My little half brother Nolan came to stay with us for a few days in June and we had a great time.  His mom Dina Marie was attending a deaf conference at the WA State school for the deaf and asked if we could watch him.  Here are some pictures of the fun we had:

Taking a picture of Nolan taking a picture of me

Nolan LOVED playing with Josie and Cosmo (the dogs)

Nolan spent time with Jonathon's mom Susie during the day on Thursday and Friday while Jonathon and I were at work.  They had lots of fun together figuring out how to communicate to each other. :)
Nolan's favorites were going swimming at Joni's house and going to McDonalds and ordering 'black soda' which Susie figured out was Root Beer.  He also did NOT like how Susie put water in his fried eggs and refused to eat them. LOL.

Going to visit Jonathon at his work and taking a tour of
Underwriters Laboratories

Making silly faces while waiting for Jonno to finish working

Eating dinner at Sweet Tomatoes
We had so much fun LAUGHING- Nolan has the best laugh.
Every time I hear it, it makes me laugh too!  Sweet boy. 

Cosmo and Nolan after his shower

Nolan with Cosmo and Josie

On Saturday morning, Jonathon, Nancy, and Nolan went to help our friends Andy and Tara Sutton move.  Nolan worked SO HARD carrying things up all the stairs!  We were proud of him.  He enjoyed the hard work and being given tasks of things to do.  We told him we'd go get ice cream after:

Frozen yogurt at Menchies before saying goodbye!

Mine and Jonathon's favorite was playing hide and seek with Nolan.  We also played tag and ran all around the house.  It was fun.

--Nolan would ask us each night what time we planned to wake up at in the morning. Somehow, no matter how late we went to bed, he'd come open our bedroom door at the EXACT time we told him we planned to wake up! He'd poke his head in and check if we were awake yet, then tip toe in and if our eyes were open, get a big grin across his face and give us a big hug!

We LOVED having Nolan come visit and hope we can see him again soon! We love you Nolan!