we sure love the young people... (said like the elderly)

 Thayner, me, and the young people of the ward scaled the Mount Everest of the Salt Lake valley tonight - Ensign Peak.  As we prepared to summit, we hooked up our oxygen tanks and ice-picked our way to the peak.  Base camp was alright, but as we reached the peak, we were stunned with the beautiful view.  The young people skipped and shrieked and flirted their way to the top, where we learned about the beginning of the valley and the pioneers who made this all possible.  We are so grateful to them and their strength.

Love Thayner.

so, uh...our lives are awesome

Thayner and I are having really lovely weeks courtesy of our awesome families. 

 I'm up here in beautiful Sun Valley, ID with the parents and Sophie playing Apples to Apples...

 and swimming at the YMCA (it's fun to stay at the YMCA).

 Thayne's hunting for real big fish,

 trying to get the bears attention,

 and REALLY trying to get the bears attention.

Soph's here trying to get the cops' attention.  Have a great week!

hello!

this picture PROVES that I have friends.  Really good ones in fact.  A few high school slash college ladies got together to talk about babies, bunions, husbands, missions, siblings, other good friends' lives, and food. A good friend sesh really lifts my spirit and makes me SO happy.  I feel splendid that I have been blessed with such wondrous friends-thanks for being awesome ladies!

we sent this picture to Thayner in Alaska.  It really shows our true feelings for the Thaynester.

things have really changed since Thayne left.  My mom has become a boozy broad.  Come home Thayne!

Good ole' Elder Grandpa Hal got to stop by for a smudge.  He and my lovely grandma Cynthia are serving as the mission doctors centered in Houston.  They are such wonderful examples of missionary service!  It was fun to chat with grandpa and watch him eat.  Note: nobody loves food as much as grandpa Hal.  Love you guys!

my man...

uhhhh, does anyone else think Thayner looks like he's in Heaven?

welp...

Remember that handsome man that I got to wake up to yesterday morning?  Well, that handsome man is flying to Alaska right now, far away from me, to go get all sorts of salmon, trout, halibut, and swimming stuff.  Ever notice how when Thayner is here, the blog is all rainbows and bunnies and fun trips and happiness?  Welp, when Thayner isn't here, my life is a little bit more like this today:

Come home Thayner!

guess what?!

Okay, so you'll never guess what happened this morning!  So there I was, just sleeping away, when, all of a sudden, I woke up next to the cutest, kindest, funniest, dreamiest, best, happiest, smartest, most handsome man of my dreams named Thayne. Best. Morning. Ever!

As the days go by and as we experience more together and work towards becoming better people and spouses, I can't help but feel so much gratitude for Thayne.  I can't believe how easy this first year is- he is so forgiving and easy-going and loving, each day gets better and better.  And today was no exception.  I love that boy.

bear lake

okay, people.  we just got home from the marvelous, food-filled, sunny, cold-watered, extravaganza that IS Bear Lake with the Taylors.  It was one of my first trips with the family last year and I can't believe what a wonderful year we've had since the last time we were there.  I had so much fun, I took a total of ten pictures...whoops.

 "Matilda" was one of the themes. tv dinners were the game. 

 unruly child behavior...

 and unruly adult behavior was the name.

 the trip involves food, games, and other stuff that revolves around the theme of each day.  the matilda game was throwing this blonde doll as far as we could by the braids (a la Trunchbowl).  Thayne made a wonderful and slightly abusive attempt, but, in the end...

 couldn't throw it nearly as far as I could!

 Cookie made us a delicious chocolate cake...

and Bruce Bogtrotter consumed the entire confection!

 another great day was charlotte's web.  we had a carnival, delicious food (made of farm animals), and a pie eating contest.

 cute little alice destroyed!

 the lake water was refreshing, the sun was always shining, the water was glassy, the family was happy, and the food (always food) was scrumptious.  Thank you Taylor family for always having a good time and THANK YOU for creating memories that will last a lifetime! We love you!

much too good for children.

curse the apple update!

what the HECK! apparently updating your phone erases all of your wonderful memories (aka photos) of your last two weeks. grrrrrrr! Welp, nothing I can do about that...moving on.  Thayne and I took a lovely trip to Sun Valley, where we had all sorts of fun.

 my new favorite book.

 cute thayner catching all sorts of prize-winning browns at Silver Creek.  this place was so beautiful and I got to chill on the banks in the sun and read that book (see above).

 we're just going to say that almost 100% of the time in sun valley we have car troubles.  (still waiting for that $800 cracked oil pan to turn into a story we laugh about).  this trip was no exception.  I discovered the flat while thayne was fishing.  I rolled up my sleeves and prepared to get dirty (I promise I know how to change a tire all by myself), when two kind, burley men came to my rescue and that puppy was changed in no time flat.

 not to be outdone, the Jeep in the garage decided to break down.  we got the jumpers and I'm pretty sure we exploded a gasket/spark plug/fancy car talk.  whoopsies.

 fast forward two weeks (remember, my beautiful memories of the last two weeks were erased).  I'm pretty sure those wonderful memories involved Hermana Davis' farewell and setting apart, the super activity and Manti pageant with the youth of our ward, Winnie Davis' baby blessing and subsequent party, family BBQs, Fiddler on the Roof community theater style, ward breakfast, fireworks, hiking at Alta, the WHOLE Bourne family at breakfast, and now, the Oakley Rodeo.  Amazing, amazing, amazing.

 the rodeo was heart-throbbing, adrenaline-pumping, wonderfully-American fun.  I can't believe people do things like that for a living.

 just the best t-shirt I've ever seen in my whole life.

 bucking bronco.

lunch with my one true love and my bro...Mikey.  He, Ash, and Havey flew in from New York to grace us with their wonderful presence.  It was so good to spend so much time with family and friends this week.