Anyway, being in Idaho Falls when the rest of the group was in Rexburg proved to be a little bit of a problem. We had to change clothes in the bathroom. We didn't have our make up. We couldn't fix our hair. And, we had to figure out the fastest way to meet up with our friends before we missed the game. One of the boys suggested we meet at a random haystack in the middle of nowhere. When he gave me the directions I remember thinking, "This is ridiculous." I tried to tell him, but he insisted that he knew what he was doing. So, we drove out out to the middle of nowhere and took an extra forty minutes to get to the game. Sad part of my day? Jeff was supposed to be my date, but because of this kid's amazing directions, I didn't have the heart to make some poor guy drive to Jackson Hole by himself just to hang out with me. Little did I know that he would have gladly done it. 
After the game we went to the Inn and got the typical broke-college-student food: Pie and hot chocolate. And then we drove forever and ever back to the random haystack in the middle of nowhere to get to Jessica's car. We were so glad to get into the car so we could talk about the whole night. On the way home there was a random turn that came out of nowhere.
We found it with the front of Jessica's car.... 
And hit it a little too hard.... 
And sent Jessica's poor car to the shop for over a month. Poor thing. It was pretty sad. But, it got fixed and is none the worse for the wear. In fact, her husband still drives it to work.
As for me? I don't have my purple car. I sold it after it started catching on fire when I drove it more than three miles. And Jeff? Jeff and I ended up hanging out the next day. And then the day after that. And the day after that... 
Time is going by so fast-I can't believe it's been four years. I can't believe our baby is four months, I can't believe my dog is almost two... I just don't know where it all goes. Probably with the socks that I am missing. I have an entire bag of single socks that have no mate. 
I was looking through photos of our wedding, trying to pick some to post today. As I was reliving that sweaty, hot day I thoroughly enjoyed some of the pictures. It made me think of that quote..."You never see the hard days in a photo album, but those are the ones that get you from one happy snap shot to the next." 
I don't always blog about the hard times, or show off the pictures that aren't the most flattering. Life isn't always this easy, perfect show. There are rough times. But I think it's how you handle those rough times that gets you through to the good times. I believe that comes from the inside, from knowing who you are, knowing where you came from, and knowing where you are going. That's a quality that I think Jeff and I found, and although sometimes we forget, overall it's our rough days that make us stronger. It seems like these last couple months we've become closer than we ever have, since having this baby I think it's made us really see that we're a forever family. We've been more patient with each other and really made sure to try to help each other. ... Like Jeff, he likes to try and teach me how to nurse, and I patiently listen while trying not smack him on the back of the head. "Honey," he'll say, "why don't you move him lower?" And I smile and say, "Thanks honey. But I think I got this." When really I am thinking, "Are... you... serious?" Cause somehow the baby eats when Jeff isn't there to supervise....
But back to our wedding, it was one of the funnest days I've ever had. I was a princess marrying her prince, and the whole day was ours. Our friends and family were there, we had good food and entertainment, and I had previously decided I wasn't going to sweat the small things. Like our wedding cake. I'd always pictured this beautiful cake, with several tiers and flowers and whatever else goes on a cake. It showed up half an hour before the reception looking like this:
Not quite what I expected. In fact, I don't think it even had frosting on it, I think I saw it after Tiffany had to PUT the frosting on it. Thank heavens she was there. I took one look at it and I remember thinking, "Oh." But, I already decided that whatever happens, happens. So, I just said, "Well, that's OK. I'll bet it tastes good." My sister-in-laws went to work and fixed it the best they could. It might not have been the prettiest cake, but I think I ate three pieces and it's still the best tasting cake I've ever had.
And this picture always, always makes me smile. All my beautiful nieces, dressed in the most adorable dresses ever. ... wait... one, two, three, four, fiv-we're missing some.
They were being cry babies and wouldn't stay in the picture. See what I mean? These are the things you don't always see-the tears, the frustration, but its those events that help you grow. Or at least give you a good laugh. You have to learn from the tough times so you can get from one happy snap shot to the next. And that's what I love about Jeff. We are constantly laughing about life. Jeff is truly the best, greatest thing that has happened to me, and I love him with my whole heart. Jeff is the sweetest man in the whole world.
Random memory from the vault time! When I was nineteen I spent the summer living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with my brother. We were river guides on the Snake river at the time, and I still look back at that summer as one of the best summers of my life. The best, of course, being every one that I have spent with Jeff. Anyway, at the end of the summer I left my car in Wyoming with Tyler and drove to Texas with Ben and Tonia to help them move. That trip is a whole story in itself, but we'll save that for another day. Long story short, I was supposed to go back to school at BYU-I, but some dingbat student working in the registrar office completely, and I mean COMPLETELY messed up EVERYTHING and I ended up staying in Texas. Jessica had also recently moved to Texas, but both of us had left things out West and needed to get them. So, we boarded a plane to Salt Lake City, and started our road trip adventure. It was seriously one of the funnest road trips I've ever had, and we have so many funny memories. 
I found my old pool pass while going through a box of books. It reminded me of the time.... 
When I was 6, and decided that I wanted to go swimming by myself. I don't remember if my brother was babysitting from upstairs in his room with the radio on, or if my Mom was taking a nap. I don't even remember why I went to the pool alone-I always had a sibling to get in trouble with. But whatever the reason, I rode my bike to the pool by myself (it was only about a mile away), walked in, laid my towel down and hung out there for probably 3 hours.
Finally one of the very observant life guards asked me where my Mom was. When they found out she wasn't there-they sent me home. Which was fine-it was getting cloudy anyway. Apparently you have to be 8 before they let you come to the pool by yourself without a parent.
Contract:
I, Tina, will not tell anybody anything Anna tells me. In fact, I've never heard it. Any signature is valid, no fine print stuff or anything like that. (And telling-a-chair-with-someone-behind- type thing doesn't count either!)
Apparently when 13 year olds share who their crushes are they have to get it in writing so the other won't tell. Or, perhaps we thought we'd be friends so long that we would need a contract like this so when we had kids they wouldn't hear all the things we'd done. ... Or we really, really did NOT want those boys to find out we thought they were cute. I like that we thought enough to say that you weren't allowed to pretend that you were talking to a chair and let someone else over hear. Very, very thoughtful.
Did you notice the date? It's September 24, 1998! Exactly 11 years ago today. And, as Jeff pointed out laughing, he was a junior in high school, and I was still writing notes with my little friend. All I gotta say about that, Bucko, is that you're a cradle robber!
Biked the Hiawatha trail in Idaho. It was beautiful. I will warn you...
To watch out for the chipmunks. They can get a little crazy for trail mix.
We went to the Spokane Washington temple and did some work there-it was beautiful.
Camped and hiked in Coeur D'alene, Idaho. We ate snacks at the Farmer's Market (I love those) and shopped around. The lake was fantastic. 
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