Life is sweet and busy

These last couple of months have been...well hectic! It's been so much fun. We went to bear lake with Josh's side of the family for the week of the 24th of July. With all of the kids and people running around I have started to thrive off the chaos. Josh and I slept on a blow up air mattress. The problem was by the time we both laid down the "air" was gone and our butts met the floor. ha Bear lake consisted of food, boating, reading, movies and sun! This is a trip we look forward to

We attempted to do some family pictures. This is Josh's cute family. He has all sisters! I am the only sister in law and I couldn't ask for a better family to be married into. From day one his sisters made me feel right at home. We are all best friends and I look up to each of them in so many ways. His mom is a hoot and makes me laugh. She would do anything for anyone!

The Sunday after bear lake we went to church with my family

Josh flew back to Seattle for work and I stayed back. I drove to Vegas with some friends to teach a dance camp. It was so fun to get together with some old Cougarettes. After we taught each day we hit the town. 

Olivia and I headed up to Bear Lake for the day. We had our family reunion.

This is my aunt with my cousin. What is wrong with this picture?

And yes...she is on a dog leash. Let's just say we had quite a few glares. I can't imagine if she had been serious. Too funny

After this camp it was off to Herriman High school to teach another dance camp 

I think I could start a new trend. Socks meet leggings..

 Camps were over and I was off to Seattle. I was excited to be back! Seattle actually now feels like home. Olivia had been staying in Seattle with some friends and was going to stay with us for 2 nights. It was so fun having her here.

 15 mile bike ride on a gorgeous trail

 We both decided to go crazy and attempt to make our own pillows.

 I couldn't wait to show Josh how crafty I had become. Josh got home that night and I showed him my wonderful masterpiece. By masterpiece, I should probably admit the pillow was tied with an elastic. Josh's response was, "Is the alphabet in right now or is it supposed to be cool?" ha shocker. He really couldn't figure out whether I made the pillow as a joke. He was simply trying to understand whether I was being serious. I guess that goes to show how much I actually craft or have ever had the desire to. After he saw the look on my face he quickly realized I was being dead serious!

Olivia and I made homemade cinnamon rolls early for Josh's birthday

That night I surprised Josh with a slideshow showing him where I was taking him for his birthday. 

Vancouver, CANADA

We took a rode trip there Sunday morning and stayed until Tuesday! Neither of us had been to Canada before. My passport still said Eliza Diederich. Our goal was to act casual and it worked. So smooth

The hotel had a surprise gift basket waiting for the birthday boy

What a SMILE. Love him

Josh and I went to Subway for lunch once we arrived. Go big or go home right?! I noticed a guy in the street yelling every word in the book. We caught eyes and he walked into Subway. At that moment I was realizing why Josh always tells me not to stare at people. I thought I was about to be shot. Instead he walked into Subway, stole a drink from the fridge, and walked back out. I must be from Utah because I couldn't believe what I just saw. Why was everyone acting so casual? ha I told Josh he should have tackled him. He laughed and said he would rather live than take someone out for taking a bottled sprite. So wise ha 

We walked around Stanley Park and went to the Suspension bridge later that day. There was an owl in a cage that was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was colorful and fluffy. To my surprise I soon realized it was a stuffed animal. (Wow...head down, walk away and pretend like I am not an idiot)

We did a lot of shopping and enjoyed this special treat

(which way to look, that is the question)

Gelato...no words

3 week adventure in Utah

Real soccer game with my parents. Gotta love Big How's smile

Isn't it freaky how much the four of us look alike? My mom and I on the left and Erin and her mom 

I loved babysitting my brothers for the week while my parents were in Prague

(wind blown hair and a chinese up do, awesome)

 

Cousinly love

Back in Utah Jensen insisted on getting a large bowl of soup at Zupas. He promised me he would finish the entire bowl. I told him that we would not leave until he did. Jensen agreed and said that if he finished his soup he could stay up till midnight. (psh midnight, sweet thing) 20 minutes later Jensen had half a bowl left. I stuck to my word and sat there till he finished it all. This is how he felt afterwards

Lesson learned.....

We celebrated Jensen's birthday which falls on the 4th of July with family and friends

Watching Fireworks....(Jensen posing for GQ) We miss you Josh

Jensen and I at Chick Fil A waiting for Josh's flight

This day was so exciting because Josh was coming to Utah. I hadn't seen him for 3 weeks. I came to Utah to teach 2 dance camps and babysit my brothers. I was so happy when he said he was flying in so we could enjoy a weekend with friends and family before we went back to Seattle. I almost forgot what it was like to be married. Needless to say I was a happy girl seeing his handsome self. 

I took Josh to my trainer Ron because his hip alignment was off. Josh has had a hard time sleeping and his back has been killing him. I knew he was in pain because he actually let me take him to my trainer. 27 is really hitting him hard...;)

Josh and I went to dinner at Vinto in SLC and then took a scooter ride to get snowcones

Poppy Ball took us to the Country Club for dinner Friday night

Saturday we celebrated Kennedy's birthday in South Jordan. Water Party! (kate pretending to like me)

Time for the Oakley Rodeo. We went with a huge group to dinner on Main Street and then headed to the Oakley Rodeo. Afterwards each couple took a blow up raft and floated the lake till 1 am. 

Monday we sent Jensen off to Boy Scout Camp. It was his first time! Doesn't he look like a character from the movie UP?!

Monday night we picked up Olivia and my parents from the airport. Welcome home International Champions

Goodbye Utah, it was fun! Luckily Seattle is now sunny and its high is in the 80's

Overall my 3 weeks in Utah were amazing to say the least. Both of the dance camps went really well and it was nice to see my old friends. You never realize the importance of family and friends until you move away. Josh and I have grown so much closer since living away from home and I am so glad I have him with me. Getting to spend a week watching my brothers was so neat for me because I learned a lot about each of them. They have grown up so much and are the best boys ever. Anything I ever asked them to do they did without hesitation. You can tell Howard has really been pulling the reins at home. Josh and I will be back to Utah in 2 weeks for our Bear Lake annual trip on Josh's side of the family. Life is good. Ciao for now

Leaving on a jet plane

On Father’s day Josh dropped me off at the airport for my flight to Utah. I was able to spend the day with my family and cousins at my grandparents for Father’s day. It was so good to be with everyone. As much as I love Seattle it can get hard because I don’t see people I know very often. I am so glad I have Josh, Lisa and Oliver though. That night I drove to Blackfoot, Idaho to teach a dance camp for the next 3 days alone. The drive was actually really pretty! I enjoyed being with the team and loved seeing them progress throughout the week.

Thursday was my parent’s birthday. Yes they have it on the same day; its actually really convenient. My mom and I went to breakfast with her parents and sisters to The Pancake house. That afternoon I made an appointment for my mom and I to go get massages and then we went to get sushi for lunch. Later I picked my dad up at the airport with my brothers and we went out to dinner. Since we were on a roll with the whole eating out thing we decided to finish off the night with some frozen yogurt. It was a pretty eventful, jam packed day! It all ended when we saw that Miami won the championship. How disappointing.

Friday all of us went to a fun little consignment store that was going out of business. Everything was 50% off! I definitely used that to my advantage and bought some décor for the house that Josh and I don’t even have yet. Ha We stopped for lunch and headed over to my grandmas pool to enjoy the sun. I can’t believe how hot Utah is right now.

The rest of the night we spent up Millcreek canyon for Jenni’s wedding reception. She is a good friend of our families and it was the most beautiful wedding. It was really fun to see all of my old friends and family.

Saturday morning rolled around and Olivia, Karli and I went for a run. We planned on doing 6 miles but shortly realized after about 2 miles we were done. How embarrassing. The rest of the day was pretty relaxing. I choreographed a whole dance for another camp I am teaching in August and learned the dances I will be doing for Regional camp at UVU in Orem this Monday-Wednesday.

Every night I talk to Josh I ask him what he found to eat for dinner. He either says eggs and beans or turkey and cheese. I feel so bad for him but he loves that kind of food.  I had told him before I left that I would put together crock pot meals in the freezer he could throw in every night. He said he would be just fine without it. I guess we can’t all appreciate gourmet meals. Josh is so great and very independent. I don’t worry about him because he manages just fine on his own. The only problem is I really miss him. This will be the longest we have been apart since we’ve been married.

Friends

A candid moment of Jack and i…

Date night out with Lisa and Oliver. We went to Matador Mexican Restaurant in Tacoma.

Everytime Josh drops me off at Lisa and Olivers house he says, “Alright sweetie, have fun at play group, and be nice to the kids!” We laugh about it. This day was the last day I would be seeing Lisa for a month and a half. I head back to Utah for a couple of weeks and when I go back to Seattle she comes to Utah. We made no bake cookies, which were a healthier treat. 

Lisa dominated the whole bowl (I of course helped) and then she texted me saying she made more for the next day.

One night I made café rio salads with homemade dressing. It tasted just like café rio! Travis, Danny, Trent and Josh loved it. Guess I will be making it more often. Just don’t ask what is in the dressing….kind of depressing

Thursday we went to the temple together. I had never been to the Seattle temple. It was way pretty!

Friday June 15^th I surprised Josh and planned a fun little date night for us. I wanted to celebrate Father’s day even though he isn’t a dad yet….no rush! I was also leaving Sunday on Father’s day and was having a hard time grasping the fact that I wouldn’t see him for 2 weeks.

We went to eat at Trappers sushi, which has the best sushi in Seattle. It is so fresh and the rolls are very unique. I highly recommend it for anyone who comes to visit. Of course we did all you can eat! Afterwards we went back home and I surprised him with homemade cinnamon rolls I had made earlier that day. It was a new recipe but unfortunately once I cooked them I shortly realized they were well....not edible. A for effort! Anyways, we watched the movie Thor because the next night we planned to see The Avengers. Later he opened his presents and we enjoyed the rest of the night together.

The next day I drove to Issaquiah to meet up with an old co-worker and his friends. They were in town for a wedding and stayed at one his buddies parents place. Check it out.

We all went to Poo Poo trail (yep you heard me) and endured a 4 mile hike.

Pikes Market place for lunch and to enjoy being tourists

 

Pike's Market Place to eat food and be tourists