Hoover Dam

On our drive back from Las Vegas we stopped and walked across the Hoover Dam.

Two things knocked off Jordan's bucket list in one trip.

Garth Brooks in concert!!

Jordan and I went to Las Vegas this weekend to see Garth Brooks in concert!!

When we went to check into our hotel room at Bally's they had upgraded us to a king suite at no charge.  We thanked them and didn't realize how much of a free upgrade it was until we walked in.  The room was older but clean, nice and HUGE.  Bigger than our first two apartments, huge.  It was really fun. Not a bad way to start our trip.  

We ate a quick dinner and then walked around.  We spent most of our time at the Paris hotel because it was close and we didn't have a lot of time before the concert.  That and it was a beautiful hotel. 

Off to see Garth Brooks!!

We weren't allowed to bring in cameras or phones so we took a quick picture before we walked over to the Wynn Encore theater.

The show was amazing. 

Garth Brooks is Jordan's favorite singer and it was on his bucket list to see him in concert.  The tickets were A LOT of money but after the show we both felt like it was worth every penny.   

It was more of a show than a concert.  It was literally Garth Brooks, his guitar and a stool.  He talked about the music that inspired him growing up.  The music his parents and brothers and sisters listened to.  He sang all different songs from those different generations and then talked about his music and how some of his greatest hits were written.  It was so interesting, funny and entertaining.  Trisha Yearwood even came on stage and sang a few songs.

We LOVED it!!!     

After the concert we walked through a few hotels on our way back and then tried to watch the water show at the Bellagio but had barely missed it.  It was so hot that we decided to go to back to the hotel to go to bed.  We laughed saying that we were probably the only people our age going to bed at a decent time in Vegas.

In the morning we had to get up early to drive back home.  It was a very quick trip but so much fun.   

AFTER!!!

I painted my dresser a dark charcoal grey. 

I love the color. Dark, classic and matches our quilt perfectly.   

I thought about painting the handles black but ended up liking the gold and decided to keep them.

I can't wait to put everything together, hang up pictures and finally have a room that feels put together not just set up until the next move. 

Who says it doesn't rain in Arizona?

Jordan and I went to get the mail and got caught in a monsoon!!

 

My pants were soaked to the knees, my shirt completely lost its shape and clung awkwardly to my body and my hair that I had so carefully straightened for work was once again curly in seconds. 

We were laughing so hard!

We sat out on our porch for a few minutes just watching how hard it was raining.

Twenty minutes later it was dry and sunny again.

Welcome to Arizona.

This week has been pretty quiet for us. 

We have spent most of our nights at home watching something on netflix or working on projects.

Here is a sneak peak on what I have been working on...

My goal is to complete all my projects before we move into our house. 

We did stop by our house on Saturday and I am finally starting to get excited.  We decided to close further out so that we wouldn't have to break the lease at our apartment.  Financially it is the best decision but we are really ready to be in a house and waiting is hard. 

The countdown to when we close has begun.  

We are buying a HOUSE in thirty days!!!!

Happy Fourth of July

Jordan and I both had the fourth of July off so we planned a fun day of hiking in the morning, swimming and a BBQ in the afternoon, friends and fireworks.  Then we woke up to rain.  Usually it only rains for a half hour or so and then stops so we weren't too worried.  Not that day.  It rained all day! 

No problem, we just had to change our plans a little. 

Jordan's knee is still bothering him from his Paria hike so we decided to skip the morning hike in the rain.  We instead drove out to Brad and Lindsey's house and had our BBQ there. Lindsey and I made ribs in crock pots and Jordan and Brad grilled corn, potatoes and onions on the grill in the rain.  It did clear up a little in the afternoon so the guys swam for a little while Lindsey and I enjoyed fresh fruit smoothies while sitting on the porch.  With the rain it had cooled down quite a bit and was a beautiful day to be outside. 

We then went to the movies to see Spiderman in 3D.  We all LOVED the movie.  It was the perfect movie to see on the fourth.  The storm had passed during the movie and the skies cleared so we knew there would be fireworks. 

Jordan and I decided that we wanted to watch fireworks from our place since I had to be up for work at 4am and didn't want to be out too late.  We said goodnight and drove home. 

We drove to the park next to our place but there were sooo many people everywhere.  We watched a few fireworks from our car and then went home.  We felt a little lame but didn't want to get caught in traffic.  On the drive home we talked about how next year we will probably have our BBQ at the park and spend the day there to get great seats for the fireworks. 

(I wish we would have been able to get pictures but I forgot to charge our battery).

We had a quiet but really fun day.  I spent all day thinking about my brother Clay in Afghanistan and the sacrifice and service he is giving our country.  I am so proud of him and can't wait for him to return home safely. 

Happy Fourth of July!!         

Tender Mercies

I was talking to my sister Caitlin the other day about adoption. 

Jordan and I had gone to a Ward BBQ and Swimming party this past weekend.  We ate, talked with friends from the ward and were having a really fun time.  We were watching all the parents playing with their kids in the pool, taking them down the slides, splashing and laughing.  After an hour or so I turned to Jordan and told him that I didn't really want to swim and was ready to go home.  Without question he said ok and we left.  As we were walking to the car Jordan asked if it was because it was hard seeing all the kids with their parents.  It was.  He just knew and I love that he just knew.

Sometimes out of nowhere it just hits me.  I feel an overwhelming sense of longing, sadness and frustration.  It is in those moments that I turn to my husband, my family and The Lord.        

I feel so blessed that Caitlin has already gone through the adoption process and she is such a huge help for me. She is the one person that I can always turn to when I have adoption questions, frustrations or need some inspiration and hope. She is not only my sister but is one of my best friends!  She has been through the adoption process, she gets it and understands. 

She told me to read a conference talk called 'The Tender Mercies of the Lord' by Elder Bednar.  She told me that when her and Ryan were waiting to find Maya that they often turned to this talk.  It wasn't about adoption but was very comforting to them. 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord?lang=eng

It was just what I was needing to hear.

"The Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ."

Waiting for our baby is at times difficult but knowing that through the Savior's tender mercies we will be comforted and strengthened it gives me hope and renews my faith. 




 
   

Paria Canyon

Jordan has been training all winter to hike Paria Canyon in southern Utah.

"Paria Canyon offers a challenging and enjoyable 38- mile hike for a well-prepared hiker. For ill-prepared hikers, it can become an exercise in survival. Four to five days are recommended to hike from White House Trail head to Lees Ferry."

He left on Thursday and originally planned to come home late Monday night.  To my surprise he came home on Saturday!!  He said that he was able to hike a lot faster than he expected and go out of the canyon early. I was so happy to see him home safe.  I really miss him when he is gone.

We had talked about me going with him but we both knew that I wouldn't be able to carry my own pack for that many miles.  And if I did I would have been miserable the entire time so I made the decision to stay home this trip and to join him the next time he goes when my back is a little more strengthened.     

He said it was an amazing canyon and he would love to go again but would wear a little more sunscreen the next time.  Ha Ha.  I don't blame him.  He came home with a pretty bad burn on the back of his neck, blisters on his ankles and will probably lose a few toenails.

I love being married to an adventurer.    

Here is his trip.

Documented in photos.

We may have just bought our first home!!!

When Jordan and I first saw this home we really liked it, quickly put in an offer and then after a lot of paper work and waiting we were told that we were out bid by two other cash offers and that there was no way our offer would be accepted.

We sadly let go of the idea that we had any chance of getting the home, decided to take Memorial day weekend off from looking at homes and then start up again.  Tuesday morning we found another home, called our real estate agent to set up an appointment to go see it. 

Our agent called us later that afternoon to tell us that the unthinkable had happened.  The other offers fell through and they had accepted ours!!  If we wanted it the house was ours!!

We still went to look at the other home and although we liked the house we hated the neighborhood and it was way to over priced.  

Afterwards we went to walk through the home we liked again, to see how we felt and if it was the home we wanted to buy.  Before we left Jordan and I prayed that we would know if this was the home that Heavenly Father wanted us to be in.   We walked in and knew it was the house we are meant to have. 

Its dirty, needs some TLC and paint but it feels right.  We told them we wanted the house.  As long as it passes inspection, its ours!! 

In the meantime here is a little tour....

The front living room

Walk down the hall the kitchen is on the left.

Here is the pantry, the fridge goes in between.

(The pantry is a little different but it is a lot of storage space so I think it will work fine)

 The kitchen.

The kitchen opens into a large great room.

 The great room leads into a second living room which we are going to turn into a play room.

It leads to the backyard.

Jordan's office 

 One of the two kids bedrooms.

The closets are weird. 

Eventually we will knock down the weird shelve things and make it into normal closet.

Kids Bathroom

 The second bedroom that will be the nursery.

Obviously we will be painting. ASAP

 The master bedroom

Small walk in closet

 Master bath