Being married five years

Being married five years is better than four or three or two or one. And especially better than none. 

Today was pretty normal except the Hunter got me flowers that matched our wedding flowers. We will write love emails to each other.  And we are going to plant a tree soon. (Traditional anniversary gifts say that year 5 is wood). And Saturday we will spend all day together and then go on a hot dinner date. 

Hunter continues to be my everything. Our friendship, happiness and love grow more each day and year.  I feel too much love and gratitude for him and towards him that I really can't share here. Too special. 

So here we go on for some more years. And then forever. 

Crimson and Clover

Late tonight I met Kristen for a milkshake.  As I drove, I turned on a random song from my ancient ipod.  The one that has all my favorite music from ten years ago when I first got it.  I pushed a bunch of buttons without looking and ended up on Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells.  I have that song in there twice.  And if that was the only song on the whole ipod I'd be just fine.  I love when I feel that way about a song.  Like.  This song right here, this one, is my favorite of all time and forever.  I turned it up so so so loud.  I couldn't get it loud enough.  I was mad at my car for having a lame stereo.
Then I remembered my old 1992 Lexus that I drove around in college.  Ten years ago.  That car had a killer stereo.  Music could always get louder.  I would drive home from late, super late, nights out with friends.  Maybe just talking for hours and still forcing ourselves to go home.  Or a great house party where I got to meet tons of new people.  Sometimes we would all be in the desert having bonfires and rappelling off mountains at midnight.  Lots of times that year it was a small group of friends who we'd be together every weekend. Those friends that I still feel so very close to when I run into them here or there these days.
Yeah, I'd drive home from these deep nights of fun.  Of pure fun and play on the brink of my adulthood.  Still playing like kids, but trying to grow up, talking about growing up.
Jenny and I went to some concerts that year that I still can't believe how passionate we felt about them.  Shows that I would feel jitters from five days later.  Feeling like that show was the best time in my life.
I would drive home late at night with my music blaring.  Thinking about all the thoughts and feelings that my new young adult mind and heart had to process.   I would cry because he still hadn't held my hand.  Or be so giddy from a hilarious conversation.  How did my naive little personality handle all those feelings?
And then I added to all those late night feelings with all that music I always had blaring.
Tonight was oddly very similar to those nights long ago.  Ha- only ten years.  But ten years! I met a friend late at night and we drank milkshakes in my car and talked about life for hours.  I drove home alone.  At midnight.  With music so loud.  I thought my speakers would break.  Really.  I loved this song so much that all my feelings- some similar to those at 19- some the absolute complete different end of the spectrum- felt amplified and huge and powerful.  My mind and heart wrenched with passion.  I missed those days.  I love these days.  I saw how much is still the same.  And how much more is not.
I think I remembered though, how much better my life is with loud music.  In the car. And at night.

Ten years now I have a different car.  Some new friends. I am never rappelling at midnight. Or ever. And fewer nights alone.  But I have true love.  He always holds my hand.  And I have that same passion and that same ipod playing Crimson and Clover that can never be loud enough.  

I am a list maker

Geez Louise.  We got back from NYC yesterday and I've been in a whirlwind ever since.  And I love it.  Remember how coming home from trips gives me extra motivation?  Well that's really convenient right now because there is a lot of FUN stuff coming up that I need to prep for.  I have lists everywhere.... in an old school spiral notebook, on my phone, on the ipad, on google drive, in my emails, on pads of paper around the house.  That was a list of where I make lists btw.



Here is a list of lists I am making:

- groceries
- BBQ dishes for Saturday
- people I need to send graduation gifts/ cards to
- Girls Camp Food
- Girls Camp kitchen decorations
- Beach house food
- Beach house packing
- Summer goals
- Summer cleaning schedule
- Piano student's books
- People I need to call



 ILOVEIT

Reading: The Holy Temple.  And The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Listening: a lot of Jenny Lewis.  In all forms.
Watching: I'm in a re-watching mode. A mix of Gossip Girl, Mad Men, The Office and Parks and Rec.
Gardening: I wake up to fully ripe tomatoes every day.  Gorgeous and delicious.
Avoiding: Hunter.  Only because he is sick and it makes me so sad that we can't cuddle.

Tara+Spencer

One week after Holly's wedding we got to do another wedding- a family one! Hunters oldest sister , Tara married Spencer. And we all loved it. Tara is so great. And Spencer has a beard. So this was a fabulous union. 

We love you guys. 

And I am Spencer's favorite.  Besides Tara, naturally. 

Washington DC

At the 10th Annual Christmas Day-Night Hot Cocoa Party-  Zach and Rebecca Hipps casually invited Hunter and me to come visit them in Washington DC.  As they were walking out the door and reaffirming their invitation- I said "yes! we will seriously come."  And we did.

And the Hipps gave us the most amazing time!  Every time we go visit friends abroad, we feel so incredibly blessed and loved.  Zach and Becca truly truly truly gave 100% of themselves and their home and their time.  Thank you, guys!

^^ Got off the plane and figured the system out. ^^

^^ Trekking to the Hipp's home ^^

^^ First meal in DC.  The Hipps KNOW their food!  We ate sooo good.  Including this neighborhood Italian gem. ^^

^^ Did a session in the DC temple which was minutes away from Zach and Becca's house^^

^^Our gracious hosts.  Check out the blue skies!^^

^^ Friday morning we got up and took the metro downtown.  We walked the National Mall all day and saw what we came to see!  Including Our Nation's Capitol ^^

^^Cherry Blossom season.  The Festival was also going on although we didn't participate much.^^

^^Hunter Poo^^

^^ Library of Congress  ^^

^^ National Archives Museum^^

^^THE Smithsonian^^

^^The gardens to the South of the Smithsonian that I can't remember their names. But I do remember Hunter and I sat and had a break in the midst of these gorgeous trees.  It got HOT and every chill moment was needed. ^^

^^ Washington Monument.  We got lucky because the scaffolding just came off! And the weather!  Hot but gorgeous! ^^

^^ The White House ^^

^^ At this point Becca and Zach had got out of work and school and rescued us from the heat!  Thank you! So they drove us by the Lincoln Monument and we had about 10 minutes total.  Which was plenty for us to go snap some photos.  We are facing the monument above.  This shot just reminds me of Forrest Gump. ^^

^^ Us and Abe. ^^

^^ "Forrest!" ^^

^^We spent the evening in Georgetown.  Cupcakes first.  Then the town.  Beeaaaaaauuuutiful!!!!!  

Had one of my most favorite dinners at a darling restaurant on the Potomac. ^^

^^Saturday the Hipps got to join us, or rather we got to be their guests.  We started at the Eastern Market.  The one place I wish we had more time.  ^^

^^Then took a drive to Annapolis, MD.^^

^^Charming little harbor town.  How are we so lucky with weather?^^

^^ Becca and I eating ice cream in these red chairs watching people go by.  A street performer to our left.  We were literally discussing how it couldn't get any better.  ^^

^^And then it did.^^

^^Becca and Zach had commitments to sing in an Easter choir at the Temple visitor's center so we went solo again- with their car.  We jolted over to the National Cathedral and charmed the front desk girl to get in free (it should be free).  Photos are not allowed inside.  ^^

Then we argued with each other and google maps until we got to Arlington Cemetery.  Driving in this city was NUTS.  But we were all smiles by the time we parked and entered this ever so reverent place. 

^^ A Sea of Graves.  Me being bossy in a selfie.  This was one of my favorite parts of our trip (although Zach kept telling me I was saying that about everything we did.)  But I really remember the serenity and Spirit that was on these grounds.  And we were there at sunset with the most beautiful breeze.  And everything smelled good. ^^

^^The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We stayed to watch the changing of the guards, twice.  I felt so honored to be an American. ^^

^^ On our way home my tummy decided we needed more Georgetown cupcakes.  We remembered the parking nightmare in Georgetown and the long line outside the shop.  So we found another shop in Bethesda- which we thought would be more accessible.  Nope. Still bad parking and long lines- But I am so glad we took the time to go to Bethesda.  Another place I wish I had more time in.  And more pictures of.  ^^

^^Sunday morning we woke up early to a knock at the door.  TODD!!! My spontaneous brother had been driving to the East coast all week and surprised us!  Ha!  He only stayed a few minutes as he was on his way to NYC- but we loved the surprise nonetheless.  ^^ 

^^Beautiful Sunday morning after an uplifting Sacrament meeting.^^ 

^^The Temple was next door to the church building so we spent Sunday School at the visitor's center.  BLUE SKIES!!!^^ 

^^ Becca took us to this neighborhood on our way out and it blew us away!  Kensington?  I think that's it.  Wow.  Houses, cherry blossoms, fanciness.  So worth it. ^^

^^We were only planning a Sunday picnic at Great Falls National Park when we found out there was a free bicycle rental program.  Yes, please.  ^^ 

^^We biked and hiked next to the Potomac River and the C&O Canal.  THIS WAS FOR SURE MY FAVORITE PART OF OUR WHOLE TRIP.^^ 

^^Afterwards we took the stroll out to see the Falls. ^^ I kept reciting this scripture in my head: 

3 His ^aeyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his ^bcountenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his ^cvoice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of ^dJehovah, saying:

 4 I am the ^afirst and the last; I am he who ^bliveth, I am he who was slain; I am your ^cadvocate with the Father.

All things truly testify of HIM. 

^^Taking the windy drive up to Shenandoah Valley.  Gorgeous, Virginia.  Good job. ^^

^^ Hunter dying. ^^

^^ Monday!  Mt. Vernon.  It was so convenient that Becca started Spring break on this day. 

 So she got to play and help us along.  ^^

^^Georgie's original tomb.  (Nic Cage was also here in National Treasure 2) ^^

^^ George and Martha Washington's Tombs ^^

ALSO let it be known that as we were leaving Mt. Vernon through the gift shop we met President and Sister Uctdorf shopping for post cards!  We shook their hands and told them we were from Gilbert, AZ where he knew we had just had our temple dedicated.  They were so kind.  We felt it would have been disrespectful to ask for a picture.  They were on a free day/ vacation.  They were also in normal clothes.  Ha! 

^^ Then we drove to nearby Alexandria and had seafood and looked around at their beautiful history.  Why is seafood so good?  ^^

^^ And our last stop was the George Washington Masonic Temple Monument.  This place blew my mind.  Hunter and I are so fascinated with Masons and their practices and morals.  And this branch in Alexandria really respected George Washington as a national leader AND as a Free-Mason himself.  ^^

That evening we were invited to a barbecue with some of the Hipp's friends.  We ate the best homemade steak I've ever had and met some really interesting people and had some funny conversations.