Our new place!

Ok, so Graham and I have waited last minute to find a place to live, but we were lucky and found a nice condo with a view of the Puget Sound.

Check it out!

The Best of Kauai

WARNING: There are a lot of pictures in this post. Please avoid if you don't like looking at Graham or me.

I'm posting some of my favorite pictures/memories/events of our honeymoon to Kauai. I can't fit them all, so I'll probably post some on facebook later..

1. We decided to rent a convertible for our vacation. Our sunburned legs and shoulders are evidence of this.














2. The view from our condo was amazing.















3. Our first hike in Kauai climbed a ridge over 1200 feet. It was hot, humid, and started pouring the second we got to the top. I was thirsty if you couldn't tell.




















4. We went snorkeling a lot. Graham liked it more than I did because I was a little creeped out by the fish. Some of them stared at me with their big googly eyes and some fish swam around me in circles. I didn't like that.



















5. Graham brought home the beach with him after snorkeling. I died laughing when I saw how many shells he had in his shorts.















6. Graham wanted to taste fresh coconut again after his mission. We went to a restaurant that advertised "ice cold coconuts".. for 6 dollars! After sipping from his coconut a couple of times, Graham started poking his coconut with his straw while waiting for our food. He then spilled his entire coconut juice all over the table. I laughed hysterically while he tried to salvage his expensive and precious coconut juice.



















7. Our catamaran cruise to the Na Pali coast. We saw waterfalls, sea caves, beautiful scenery, and snorkeled with sea turtles.




















8. The salt water was making Graham's eyes and contacts sting, so he wore my Gucci sunglasses. He looks gay. He didn't want this picture taken, but I was like.. Graham, I have to blog about this. You know... some guy told me once that Guccis are unisex, but that's just disgusting!
















9. A hike to another waterfall through the "sacred grove" of Kapa'a. It's not literally a sacred grove--it just reminded us of it. Our little excursion was ruined by some annoying group of kids from a church youth group.



















10. Queen's Bath in Princeville. A great swimming hole right on the ocean in the volcanic rocks. The swim was great, but the hike down a muddy path proved too difficult for me and my stupid feet. I biffed it really hard on my butt. The only other person I saw fall was an old woman. Go me.















11. The Beach House Restaurant in Koloa or Poipu. It was right on the beach, and we had the best view and food. Graham had seared ahi tuna with a ginger lime butter, and I had a delicious beef tenderloin. It was seriously one of the best meals I've ever had in my life.















12. Hiking in Waimea Canyon. It was so beautiful and definitely worth the effort even though I almost killed myself again by missing a rock or a branch and almost falling into a river. This picture is of the Kalalau lookout.
















13. Riding in ATV's through a ranch. We saw movie sites from Indiana Jones, Mighty Joe Young, and Jurassic Park. I had so much fun that I was smiling the whole time. I was just glad I had a handkerchief covering my geeky smile. I also got dirt all over my face and teeth.















14. Our last night was at a luau. Cheesy, yes I know.. but Graham wanted to go since it was his first time in Hawaii. It turned out to be very nice, and the setting was absolutely beautiful.














15. Being honeymooners! We had so much fun and were kind of glad we waited to go on a real honeymoon.

All in all, it was a fabulous trip and we had a blast. Now--back to moving and real life! Boo.

Our real honeymoon

Graham and I are leaving for Kauai tomorrow morning for our weeklong honeymoon.

And yes, you should be jealous.

Baby Names

Ok, so I was bored this evening and started surfing random blogs. I came across a lot of blogs of young Mormon newlyweds and young Mormon families.. and was disgusted.

Seriously.

Do we have to misspell every traditional name to make it unique? Does adding a Y, Z or K make a name cool?

Or what about those super weird names that have to be made up or found in an archaic version of Webster's dictionary, like Traeger? How can you even tell if that's a boy or a girl?

What about the ultra-Mormon name Talmage? Why don't you just name your son Uchtdorf or Faust?

How about Talon.. as in.. "do the chickens have large talons?"

Come on people.. You make me sick.

For my new apartment..

I want this couch. Really bad. I think it'd be sweet in the 2nd bedroom for our guests.It folds out into a fouton-like thing. Do you think it's comfortable?

Shrek on a Trek

So Graham and I went on a pioneer trek from Thursday-Saturday. My feet are swollen, I have blisters everywhere, and Graham's back is bruised from being thrown into the river, but we're good to go.. The trek wasn't really that difficult... it was just exhausting with having to manage 10 kids and walking 10 miles a day pushing a hand cart. I'm proud of myself for not complaining the entire trip.. Go me.

Oh, and I look disgusting--French braids don't really flatter my face--but I'm posting these for humor. I swear I don't look this gross when I look in the mirror everyday.

So hot right now.

I look like a baby in the bonnet.

Our "family". I'm hiding in the back.

Pushing the handcart.Mormon pioneer "stick pulling". Graham didn't beat this girl's husband, so I had to make up for it by beating her twice.
We had to cross a river at the very end of the trek. They said it was thigh-deep, so I decided not to go since I couldn't even put on my shoes with all the blisters. I ended up walking 3 miles instead in someone else's shoes... literally. Walking in those shoes only made my feet worse. I ended up finishing the trek barefoot.

Anyways, we had a good time. We had a good group of kids and it was really mind-clearing. However, I hope to never do it again.

I...

Got the job!! Yayyyyyyyyyyyyy.

I will be starting on August 11th.

Graham and I will be moving to Brem Brem the weekend before I start. We are so freaking excited to move out of our crazy people apartment complex.

Family Reunion

Ok, so we spent a week in the middle of nowhere in Idaho. Hillbilly/cowboy central.

Graham wanted to go to Idaho over the 4th of July so we could be in Council for the festivities--the parade and the porcupine race.

Here's the photo narrative:

Lost Creek Falls. I jumped off a cliff and didn't lose my bathing suit--miracle.

Graham fishing. I only lasted about 15 minutes and spent the rest of the time reading a book.

Where we went fishing. Really beautiful.

Me and Graham at the parade.

The cowgirl with flowers? Not sure why you need a flower arrangement on horseback. My favorite part of the parade.

Ali got caught stealing candy from children.

Porcupine race. It was actually fun.

Little baby porcupine. In the race, he didn't even move.

Ok, so I might have spent more time indoors than out over the past week, but that's ok. I spent time with the air conditioner.

Council, Idaho

That is where I am. Family reunion.

Population: 816

Cell phone bars: 0

# of cousins/siblings/grandparents/aunts and uncles in a 3 bedroom house: 40

Days until we leave: 3

Reasons why Graham loves it so much here: unknown...

P.S. I got a second job interview.. They called me back the next day! Looks like Graham and I might be moving sooner than I thought...