ORYGUN

I know. I know. It's been awhile. Ever since school started (I'm back at Boy You're Ugly) things have been pretty crazy. But, we do have a lot to share with you because the last few weeks have been pretty eventful.

For starters, we should probably tell you about our trip to Oregon. It was Jen's maiden voyage to the Treehugger state. In the short 5 days we were there, she got a pretty good shellacking of very non-Utah culture and a pretty severe case of Duck fever. It didn't start out, though, as all fun and games (Jen learned to play Ripple!). After being (Grandpa was driving) in the car for 8 hrs on a trip that usually takes 5, we were spent. It was nice in good ol' Nampa, Idaho. We stayed at my Aunt Jean and Uncle Steve's place. Too make that long story short, they got a new 4-wheeler and wanted us to take it for a spin. I glady accepted and took it by myself for a good 20 min. ride around farm land. The view wasn't much, but it was a fun ride. I came back and got Jen and we headed out again. All of the sudden, out of nowhere, when we were in the middle of a dusty farm road, a huge dust storm hit and we were getting pelted by dust at, like, 30 mph. It was crazy. Well, we eventually go back safe but not after getting sand blasted.


Well, the next day saw green like you only see in pictures in Utah. Trees were everywhere it was nice!! The place of my origin! We did lots of stuff. We ate at Papa's Pizza (some of the best pizza, and a plain old tradition), played lots of Ripple, talked lots of football and went and saw the sites of Eugene. That took all of about a day. With nothing else to do, we went to the "Coast" which Jen thought was kind of funny because everyone calls it the coast. Not the beach, not the ocean - the coast. Anyways, that was fun except for the fact that it was all fogged in. But it was still, like Jen said, "Beautiful though." NOTE: Grandma got lost in the bushes trying to find a trail and got all cut up and muddy. We found her by the trail in her huge purple coat. It was really funny!!





Ok. After all of that, the day of days finally came. It was Saturday and Jen's hazing was almost complete. To be completely initiated into true Oregonianism, Jen had to see true liberals. A.K.A. hippies. So we went to the Saturday's Market in downtown Eugene. Among a lot of cool things to buy, we saw more dreads than Jamaica, a man in a dress, a guy singing a song about people wearing shoes (all he said was, "He/she's wearing shoes" over and over again.) It took him 20 years to come up with those, so he said. A fully grown, straight man, was wearing a skirt and mid-drift t-shirt. Jen had never seen hairier legs - on women. And the air smelled so good that I can't really remember what happened for the next few hours. Maybe it was all the weed?! Once making it through that, Jen was ready - ready for her coronation into the family - The Duck game!




Without a doubt, this was the part Jen was most excited for. I was like, "Oh, it'll be pretty fun." But Jen showed me a side of her she has never shown, probably to anyone. She couldn't even sleep the night before. I don't know why. It was only a football game. She even wanted to paint her face. The game wasn't until 7pm but she insisted that we get there at 4 so we could see the team, hook up with some REAL tailgaters, and just see the stadium and everything. The best part was, once we got into the stadium, it didn't take long before we heard the student section taunting the Washington fan's and team by chanting, "F*** the Huskies!" over and over and over again. What surprised me the most is Jen's willingness to join into the ruckus. I had to hold her back and cover her mouth. It was embarrassing, but once she really got going, I couldn't do anything but join in also!! So there we were F***in the Huskies over and over and over again! It was great. Needless to say, the Ducks won their home and Pac-10 opener by a lot. It couldn't have been better! NOTE: The preceeding message was completely falsified. Braden was actually the excited one (in case you didn't already know) and there was no f***in from us. We promise.






The next day, we flew home, got to Utah in the worst rain storm it has ever seen, and slept at Joe and Kathy's place. Monday was Labor day, so we cleaned out the fridge, picked up Joe and Kathy from the airport, and enjoyed the rest of the day/holiday/vacation. The next day saw work and school and that's been the story ever since.

Update by Jen

Hello! I haven't written on here for a while, it's usually Braden :) which is great cuz he's really good at it. But, I thought I'd take a minute and update you all on our life.

Yesterday, Braden finished his finals and hence finished his Summer semester!!!! Whooo! He did so great in all of his classes, especially his industrial design drawing class. Now he has 3 weeks off and I know we are both going to really enjoy it. Especially because for a week of that time we get to go to Oregon, which I've never been to and it's where Braden grew up. The two highlights he's been talking about the most is a donut shop in Eugene and the opening Oregon Duck game which we will go to live!!!! - along with my first ever tailgate party. We will for sure post pictures when we get back.

We had both of our parents over for dinner this last weekend - My parents and the puppy came for Sunday dinner, and Braden's parents came for Monday dinner. We had so much fun! Both nights we played a game we got for our wedding - In a Pickle, both our dad's won! With my parents we checked out the highlights on YouTube of the TV show, "Wipeout." If you haven't seen it, it's so funny. Then on Monday night we watched a movie, Drillbit Taylor. It was funny with a moral of how the bully get's it in the end.

I know I'm going backwards but that is how my mind works! :) Sunday we also accepted our calling in church to be Primary teachers. We teach three little girls - they are about 5 or 6 years old. Only two of them were there this last week, Page and Grace. Again, we'll take pictures and post them.

Last bit of news is that one year ago Braden and I met. I can't believe it's been a year. I have so much to be grateful for and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in my life than in our basement apartment with my wonderful wonderful husband, Braden. I don't know how I got so lucky. We tell each other we were good missionaries - cuz as I heard the Elder's say a lot, "gotta work hard for those "Hot Wife" points" - or in my case "Hot Hubby" points! :) Yep, I must have worked dang hard! It's been a great year, I'm so grateful to our Heavenly Father for bringing us together and that we are now an Eternal Family.

Until next post, we love you all TONS and hope to see and hear from you all soon. Oh, and thanks for voting on our new hair. Braden actually has even newer hair now. He buzzed it for the summer - I think it looks hot! :) K, C-Ya!

It's Summer Time!!

Ok. I know what most of you are thinking. You're thinking, "What the crud Braden, it's been summer for, like, the last 3 months." I know. But, for me, today is the first day of summer!!! See, for the last calender year, I have been a faithful member of BYU classrooms. That's right. I have been going to school. But yesterday, I finished my finals (did pretty well too!) and today, well, today I get to do pretty much nothing - only what I want to. I'll be spending the next couple of weeks sleeping in, making movies, writing books and reports (that's my job), paying serious attention to the olympics (we don't have cable so I'll watch it online), watching a lot of movies, going to Oregon, seeing the Ducks play, spending time with Jen not doing quizzes, and more. Then, when all that is done, guess what? Back to school. Yup, only two weeks for me. But hey, come April, I'm done! Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know. I hope you all have had a nice summer. Peace.

p.s. don't you just love the picture?

Do the Do!

So, it wasn't but a week ago that Jen and I had our one month anniversary. I know I know, a lot of you are saying, "Whoopdeedo. It's a month." But if you really think about it, many marriages, especially celebrity marriages, don't last that long. So I think that we're doing DANG good! Anyways, for our anniversary, we decided to get new hairdo's. Jen cut her hair short, which I love! I darkened my hair up a bit. So, it's somethin' different for the both of us. Let us know what you think!

Wedding Day!

Alright, I know that some of you have been anxiously waiting to see some pictures from our wedding day. So here are some. I hope that you enjoy them. They really turned out nicely. Our photographer, Joanna Taylor, did an amazing job. I recommend her to any who are looking!


















Needless to say, the day was perfect! We couldn't have asked for a better day! Thanks to everyone was able to come to the temple. We love you all. Stay tuned for more pics from the reception and BBQ!

Sorry about the wait!

Alright. I know that many if not most of you are just dying to see pictures and what-nots from the wedding. All I can say is just wait. We'll get some posts up, but pics might take another week or so. Also, if I can get the file small enough, I'll try to get some of the wedding video up. The last week has been absolutely amazing and perfect. Thanks to all those that helped and came. We love you all and we we'll get more up here soon!!

Bahstun

Hello, Greetings from Bahstun! We haven't written in a while cuz we've been so bussy! :) We just enjoyed an ahsum vacation in Massachusetts with Jen's family. Her Aunt and Uncle and Grandparents live on Cape Kahd (Cape Cod) out on the tip of Massachuestts. We left on Saturday the 7th early in the morning and flew to Denver and then to Baltimore and then arrived in Providence, Rhode Island. When we were down at baggage claim we heard our first really thick Bahstun accent - hence, the funny spelled words in this entry - we'll try and give you a sense of the culture. ha! It was then a two hour drive to the Cape - so it was a long but very fun day! We totally relaxed on Sunday and just enjoyed the family. Boy the humidity was amazing! Jen's hair got really frizzy! :) Monday was a packed day - we went in to Bahstun and took a tour of Fenway Pahk - where the Red Sox play. We got to sit in the Press Box where the newspaper reporters sit. We were both reporting from the Boston Globe. Braden got to ride on his first subway - on the "T" as they call it here. We saw the Boston Commons and we rode on the swan boats. We ate at a great little pizzer place recommended by a cop! It was fun finding it and knowing we couldn't get it back in Utah! On the way we saw "Cheahs" - Chears - the bar from the TV show. We then walked the freedom trail ALL over the city! It was great to see the history of Boston. We saw old grave yards, some headstones were from the early 1700's! We saw the USS Constitution - and timed our "tour" perfectly. I think it was all closed for the day when we got there, but they had this HUGE group come through that we blended right in with! It was great. After the USS Constitution we had one more stop to make - Bunka Hill Monument - we were so so tired and when we saw where the monument was Braden offered to get a cab! :) My mom asked if we would be disappointed if we didn't go see it. I gave her a big hug and said thank you! We then walked back to Quincy Hall for dinner. That is a cool place - it's just a huge eatery with foods from all around the world. Outside it has quaint shops and souvenir stores. One of the last things we did there before we left to go back was Braden found a great Red Sox hat! He is definitely allowed into the family now! :) Tuesday we took it easy again. That evening we went to a local beach on the cape. It was so pretty as the sun was setting! We played frizbee and got covered in sand! Wednesday morning Braden and Kathy (Jen's mom) left for home. Braden has finals this week and next and had to get back. We can't wait until we don't have to say good-bye anymore! TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!! :) I hope you're all ready to party hard with us! Well, be watching for some pictures from the trip. Jen will post them soon. We love you all! See you soon!