Cabela's: The World's Foremost Outfitter

Cheap dates are the best. If you live in the Provo/Salt Lake area, Cabela's makes a great cheap date.

We went looking for some camping equiptment, but ended up just exploring what the store had to offer. The store is almost like a museum, with wild life displays everywhere.

We especially like the shooting range. For a buck, we were entertained for a whole hour. Joe's a great shot!

I was able to hold my own. Joe only beat me by 5 points or 1 shot. It was fun because every time you hit a target, something in the landscape moved or lit up. For example, if you hit an animal, it would spin around. (Warning: If you are anti-hunting, you will hate Cabela's).

Joe taped some video as proof that I can hit a target. It's through facebook, so you have to log in to view it. I hit the tail light of the truck. You can see it flash.

Joe found his favorite chair of all time. He was pretty serious about wanting to bring it home. Although it was comfortable, it just wouldn't match our home decor.

The store also boasts of a pretty cool aquarium. I had no idea catfish could get so big!

This is a weird pic of us, but it's the only one of us together that night. We had a great time at Cabela's even though we didn't buy a thing (except the tokens for the shooting range). However, if you are a hunter, you might want to leave your wallet at home.

Twenty Seven

(My dear sister Cecily made this beautiful "Better than, (pause) you know" cake. It's my favorite.)

My birthday was earlier this month, but I was so busy with my internship, I didn't get a chance to post my usual refections of growing a year older. Funny thing about birthdays--everyone has a different opinion of them. Some people are fanatics. They don't celebrate birth-DAYS, they celebrate birth-MONTHS. Others are more quiet about it. They don't make a hullabaloo, but make sure to treat themselves to a little something. And then there are some that want everyone else to know when their birthday is, so they make sure to broadcast it at least a month in advance to everyone within earshot. They do this so that no one forgets to make them feel special on that day. And then, there are the people who have birthday-phobia. They hide their birthday from everyone except the people from whom they can't hide it (like their moms.) When asked, they refuse to reveal the day they were born. Heck, if they could, they wouldn't even tell the DMV.

With the exception on the last group, I have fallen into all of these categories. Perhaps because I was a child of six and thus had to fight for attention, I always wanted to feel special on my birthday. I've been blessed with a dear friend to feels that birthdays should be like Christmas and makes a point to go out of her way to spoil others on their birthday. She even drove 13 hours from Arizona to Sacramento, CA to surprise me on my birthday a few years ago.Yup, she's a die hard and I love her for it. Perhaps because of her example, I feel that everyone should feel special and loved on their birthday. It's not only the day a person entered this world, but it's the day that his or her greatest test began. For that is what this life is. It is one big test to see what kind of person we will be. Every year of this gigantic test that is completed should be celebrated.

I have come to believe, however, that birthdays are best when they are about serving others. If you hope for a fabulous birthday, full of presents and recognition, you are bound to be disappointed. But if you focus more on other's birthdays, and try and make them feel loved on those days, then you can feel birthday joy throughout the year. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't celebrate yourself. It just that the basic service principle applies. You can't expect others to serve you and doing so won't bring happiness. You can only serve others, and that is where the happiness comes.  

This year I worked 10 hours in a law office where no one knew it was my birthday. I ate lunch alone. I didn't open a present. (May family did give me some wonderfully thoughtful gifts a few days later. But nothing on my actual day). But, my sister made me a wonderful cake, my mom cooked me a steak dinner, and I laughed with my parents and siblings all night long. It was the simplest birthday I have ever had and I am grateful for it because when it comes down to it, family, food, and laughter are the best combination in life.

I am grateful for my mother who not only endured months of nausea and 26 hours of labor to bring me into this this world, but cracked her tail bone in the process. I am grateful for a father who welcomed me into the world with open arms and held my hand whenever I needed something to hold onto. I'm grateful for siblings who came after who have become my most important friends. I am grateful for other loving family members and friends who have loved me. I am grateful for my husband, even though he called me at 12:01am to sing me happy birthday. It was worth waking up for. I am thankful for good food, beautiful music, the glorious outdoors, and adventures. But most of all, I am grateful that God gave us this wonderful world and provided a way for us to return to Him once our mortal test is complete.

I've lived 27 years. I never thought I would get this old, but I am so glad I did because the truth is, life is good. It is oh so good.

This is why . . .

. . . I get no sleep at night. What a bed hog! He doesn't believe me, so I had to get this picture as proof. (Please don't mind the messy bedroom.) I guess this would be fine if we were the kind of people who like to cuddle all night. I know you people are out there. But let's be honest, men are hot as ovens and I don't know about your husband, but mine kicks in his sleep. No thank you! I'm thinking we should get bunk beds. Then maybe I wouldn't have these bags under my eyes!

We Got Cake Wrecked

I love a good laugh. I love a good cake. I love beautiful cakes. I love horribly decorated cakes (because they make me laugh). So naturally, I LOVE the blog Cake Wrecks, because it combines them all. Check it out. You will be shocked at how "wrecked" some of the cakes are! 

Last week, we headed to the Kings English Bookshop in Salt Lake City for a the Cakes Wrecks tour. Jen, the creator of the blog, has just published a book which she offered to sign. She also came to share some of her favorite wrecks with us.

The actual event was in a mod gallery down the street. It was a packed house!

We went with some of our favorite people, my dear sister Allie and her witty husband Chris. Thanks Allie for inviting us!

That's Jen and her husband. She is as funny in person as she is on her blog!

Joe had never heard of Cake Wrecks. He's not a blogger. But, the dear humored me and came along. I may or may not have bribed him with cake.

People brought in some replicas of the wrecks. Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of those (but, Jen posted the great ones on Cake Wrecks, so check them out). They also served cake and a local bakery showed off some of their sweet creations. I loved this polka dot cake.

This was the biggest cupcake I have ever seen. The babies on carrots were originally on an actual wreck. I'm sorry, but doesn't that just creep you out?

The boys liked the cake. Yum!

Although I've had my share of sweets (like my wedding cake below that I absolutely ADORE), 

I've had my share of wrecks too. This was Joe's birthday cake this year. It looks NOTHING like the model cake they showed me. It is SUPPOSED to be a football helmet next to a football on some grass. I guess the decorator decided to leave out the face guard on the helmet and decided that grass grows sideways. Oh well, it tasted good.

I must say, I loved the Kings English Bookshop. I'm a sucker for bookshops and this one was so quaint. I could spend many hours perusing their shelves.

Of course, Allie and I browsed the lovely books while we were there. We especially loved the home decor books. Ah, "one day" we will be able to have a swanky house like those. 

Allie found our favorite book of the night. 

It's a real tear jerker.

Roses and Watermelons

While I was in Oregon last month, Joe was able to take a weekend and come and visit. It was the first wonderfully sunny day that we've had all year (It was terribly rainy almost the whole month I was in Oregon). We spent Saturday morning visiting my Grandmother in the hospital. After that we went to downtown Portland to watch the Rose Parade and check out the Saturday market. The parade was wonderful! There was everything that should be at a parade--floats, marching bands, dancers from different cultures, street vendors, balloons, and excited children. It was the perfect start to summer!    

It's not a great parade without a Chinese dragon!

We got lunch at the Saturday market. It was warm and I wasn't in the mood for anything heavy or fried. Thank goodness for a fruit stand! You could pick to have slices of watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, mango, kiwi, or strawberries. I chose watermelon and mango and had the women drizzle lime juice on it. YUM! I have to say, I'd never had lime on my watermelon before, but I will make sure and have it agian for sure!

When all is said in done, we love Portland with all it's spunk and personality!

Mother, I Love You!

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet Mother!

Marcia is a devoted wife,

Mother of six, 

and my best friend.

She is also the best boggle player you ever did meet!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Luna De Miel

I realized that I never posted any pics from our honeymoon. We only had 2 days on the Oregon coast before he had to move back to Utah and I had to start school again. But we had a great time in Cannon Beach. It was stormy and gloomy and perfect for cuddling.

Muah!

Haystack Rock. We could see this from our room.

We did venture out, although the wind and my hair had a great battle.

The wind almost won!

We had the room on the top right.

We absolutely HAD to stop the the Tillamook Cheese Factory for some ice cream. If you are ever on the Oregon Coast, it is a must. Not only do you get free cheese samples, but they  have the BEST ice cream in the WHOLE WORLD. I promise!

See, Joe can't get enough! Haha!

Jazzin' It Up

I know that basketball season is over, but I wanted to "catch-up" on some of our past adventures. Last semester the law school had an auction to benefit the students going into Public Interest Law. Knowing I am married to a sports FANATIC, I scored some Jazz tickets and surprised him! We were in the nose bleeds, but it was a great break from the routine.    

He shoots, and he scores!

I think he gets tired of me taking pictures of us all the time. I love my goofball!

Our view.

We had a great time and can't wait to go to another game!