The Mortensens and Denneys Come Together!

Brett and I spent the 24th of July in Alamosa, Colorado (my home town) with BOTH of our families. That's right, the Mortensens and Denneys came together for some small-town fun! We actually have a big Pioneer Day Celebration in Manassa, Colorado (an even smaller town just 20 minutes south of Alamosa). I grew up going to this celebration every summer, it brings family and friends together every year! Everyone call it "Christmas in July." It consists of parades, live music, the best hamburgers in town (and they only come once a year), rodeos, demolotion derby's, fireworks, and much more. We had a weekend full of fun together.

My family gave the Denney's a small taste of the Pioneer Day Fun in Manassa on Friday. The boys started out the day with a round of golf at 6:30 in the morning. Then we hit up the parade, and just sat around on the grass enjoying live music and those delicious burgers!

Brett waiting oh-so anxiously for the parade to start! Ha!Love the bunny ears Craig, classic.
Just one of the many cute floats!

Friday night we hit up the Rodeo! I didn't get a picture of the mutton busting....but someday our kids WILL do that!

Saturday the boys started out with GOLF again. Somehow they managed 45 holes over the weekend. Our dads were in heaven!

Brett is wishin' this was his.
Takin' Sheri out for a ride

Our hike to Zapata Falls The rocks were slippery....

The water was FREEZING.... And my poor dad fell in!!Our mothers pretending to be brave and wading in the freezing water!

The rest of our time was spent eating delicious food and playing dominos late at night! The Denneys taught my parents to play Mexican Train, they are hooked!

We had such a fun weekend with our parents! There's nothing better than great company, great entertainment, and great food! It's even better when the company is FAMILY! We are so lucky our parents get along so well....it's like they were friends before Brett and I even met!

Thanks Mom, Dad, Craig, and Sheri for ALL OF THE FUN! We Love You!

The Fray

Saturday night we went and saw The Fray perform at the Usana Amphitheatre in Salt Lake. We met the Rotheys there as well as Carly Walton and her boyfriend Spencer! Brett and I aren't super into The Fray, but it was a fun atmosphere and a great excuse to get together with friends! While waiting for the band to come on, we sat around and played Phase 10; everyone else around us was drinkin' and gettin' crazy...probably a funny site.

Things You May Not Know......

My sister-in-law Carly tagged me, so here goes:

List 10 things people don't know about you, then tag 7 people!

(It's harder than you think)

1. If I could go back to school, I'd become a teacher.

2. I love searching recipes online (I'm constantly looking at food blogs), and love watching Food Network just to watch people make yummy food.

3. I have severe claustrophobia and I'm afraid of suffication (I hate being dunked under water, smothered by a pillow, blanket, or confined to a very small or very crowded area. Please don't ever do any of these to me, I might freak out!)

4. I LOVE scary movies!

5. I absolutely love theme parks and rollercoasters.

6. I hate brussel sprouts!

7. I love to sing, and wish I wasn't so terrified to sing in front of people.

8. My friend Tami and I have a long-standing tradition of making fully-loaded nachos everytime we get together. The magic ingredients are Tami's mom's canned chicken and my mom's homemade salsa. Nachos wouldn't be the same without the two. Then of course, cheese, sour cream, the works. Silly, huh?

9. I love the show "What I like about You", with Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth. So highschooler of me.

10. I took Brett and I on our first date, and paid! It was his birthday. But he was such a pansie I had to make all of the first moves! It was worth it. I love him, he is the best!

I tag....

Tami

Kellie

Susie

Laura

Kim

Christy Anne

Traci

*Whoever wants to do it!

Welcome to the Working World

Brett started an internship this week with 8 Pillars, a financial coaching company, in Highland, Utah. Matt Bauman (Brett's teammate), recommended Brett to his aunt, who is the VP of the Coaching sector of the company. Brett's first day was Thursday. He'll work about 5 hours a day, but after 7:ooam workouts, then going to work until 3 or 4pm, it's a full-day of work for him. The first thing Brett said to me after his first day was, "Thanks for working all-day, everyday and not complaining about it." He's finally getting a taste of what I've been doing for 3 years!! But he's really excited about the work he's doing and the people he works with. Hopefully, if everything goes as planned, he will be trained and certified as the first, 8 Pillars Financial Coach! He's working hard and I'm so excited for the opportunity and experience he's getting. Plus, it's a paid internship so that's always a perk! Welcome to the working world babe!!!

Friday Night Lights

This show has CONSUMED our lives for the last week. We haven't been to bed before midnight. I dream about it at night, catch myself thinking about it throughout the day, and it's the topic of our conversation majority of the time. But that is what happens when you get completely hooked on a tv show like Friday Night Lights. And believe me, you will get hooked. We can never stop after one episode, so we don't even try. It usually turns into two or three night, and suddenly it's after midnight. This morning at 1:00am we finished the last episode of Season 1. But we immediately had to watch the first episode of Season 2; we couldn't be left hanging.

There are a few of you who know exactly what I'm talking about (Spence and Car--by the way this obsession is kind of your fault:) but thanks)

Anyone looking for a great show, this is it! It's incredible! It's heartwarming, suspenseful, intense, comedic. We laugh, I cry (Brett has been close). Its such a great television show.

Congrats to Karah and Joseph!

This past weekend Brett and I flew to Denver for my friend Karah's wedding. Karah was one of my good friends and teammates at Oregon State. I think we instantly bonded because were both Colorado girls! She and her husband, Joseph now live in Denver. The wedding was great, the bride was beautiful--Karah's dress was stunning!

Karah and her dad

The bride and groom

Kate, Allison, and I were able to spend the entire night catching up and reminiscing our college volleyball days! Hadn't seent these girls since 2006!

All of us with the bride

This is Kate's 10 month old little girl, Joy! She is the most adorable little red-head. Brett fell in love with her right away! He said we could have a red-headed baby if she was as cute as Joy! It's so crazy, yet amazing to see some of your friends be mothers!

Congrats to Karah and Joseph Reygers!

Arizona

Brett and I drove to Arizona on Friday, for a quick weekend trip to visit my family. The whole fam was there for the blessing of my oldest brother Tyler's new baby, Crew!

Saturday we hit up the pool. The boys had a blast on the diving boards!

Not sure what Brett is doing....cannon ball??

Tyler flyin' high

Spence doing a dive. I snapped the picture too early, but it looks pretty cool!

Gracelyn LOVING the water!

This is the man of the hour....Crew. Sleeping even at the pool. He is so precious and hardly ever cries or fusses.

All of the siblings and their spouses (poor Justin is the odd-man out).

Our trip was way too quick, but I'm so glad we were able to spend some time with my family and were able to be there for Crew's baby blessing!! Can't wait to see everyone again!

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5

This is mine and Brett's all-time favorite show (yep, Brett even likes it, no-he loves it!) Season 5 starts tomorrow night! If you're not a watcher, it's time to start. It's better than American Idol, better than Dancing with the Stars, and it'll soooo make you wish you could dance!!

Sheri's Lookin Good

Brett and I got his mom a flirty apron for Mother's Day. She sent us this picture today (our gift arrived a day late). I had to post it because she looks so cute in it!!

Thanks Sheri for being such a great mother to Brett, you raised an incredible son!! And thanks for being a great second mother to me, I love being a part of your family!

I Often Go Walking

I often go walking in meadows of clover,
And I gather armfuls of blossoms of blue.
I gather the blossoms the whole meadow over;
Dear mother, all flowers remind me of you.
O mother, I give you my love with each flower.
To give forth sweet fragrance a whole lifetime through;
For if I love blossoms and meadows and walking,
I learn how to love them, dear mother from you.

This sweet, simple primary song made me think about all of the different and unique qualities my mother has, and about everything I have learned from her. She has showed me how to enjoy the simple things in life, and she's taught me there is nothing more important than serving your family, serving your children. I hope I can be the same selfless mother she's always been. Thanks mom, for being the best mother and my best friend!

Happy Mother's Day!

Do What You Love

Volleyball used to consume my life! in fact, it was my life through college! I loved it! But since I finished playing at Oregon State (yeah, 3 years ago), I've played less and less each year. Suddenly, I have the urge to play again! I miss it.

I'm playing in an outdoor doubles volleyball tournament with a friend tomorrow. I will be rusty, it could be ugly, and we might get crushed by the other teams; but it will be so great to play again!

I'm excited to start doing what I love again and playing some vball.

Impetigo--OUCH! YUCK!

I am one of those cursed individuals that gets cold sores! They are annoying, painful, unattractive, and embarrassing. For those of you that get them-you know the pain I'm talking about. For those of you that don't-count your blessings!!

Well, this weekend I've experience something much worse than cold sores.

On Thursday night my lips were feelig really dry and the corner of my lip started to crack. Friday morning I woke up to what looked like a round, red-ish looking rash in the corning of my mouth with little bumps lining the edges of my lips. By Friday night the bumps were itching and throbbing. I thought it was fever blisters from being in the sun so much in Florida. Well, Saturday morning I woke up to big, red, blistery, itching, stinging, swollen lips-covered in little bumps. Painful and hideous!

This morning I woke up to find my condition worsening and decided to go to an urgent care to get some medication! (I had tried my cold sore medication and it obviously wasn't working). There, I was told I have a bad case of IMPETIGO on my lips. Impetigo is a bacterial infection usually caused by stapholococcus aurus (staph infection). I was given a topical cream that will hopefully kill it within a couple of days.

In the meantime, my lips are still burning, itching, throbbing, swollen, and not a pretty site at all. It hurts to eat, talk, or even open my mouth! Brett's been bored with a mute all day! However, I've decided I'd much rather deal with a cold sore than this. Impetigo...ouch! yuck! And it is highly contaigeous--so no kisses for Brett!

Florida

Brett and I spent 5 days in Florida visiting his brother John and his wife Christy, and their kiddos Austin and Brock. Now that we are back to work, school, and real life we are wishing we were still there. We had such a great time. Living clear across the country, we never get to see John and Christy so it was great for us to spend a few days with them! They were the best hosts!

Airboat ride! (I know, we are not looking our best, but to our credit we went straight from the gym)

We were able to celebrate Brock's 2nd birthday with him, Elmo style!

Our 15 mile bike ride down "Shark Valley" where we saw tons of alligators! These suckers were everywhere!
Brett fishing in the canal behind John & Christy's house

We ate at a super yummy burger joint, Le Tub. It's right along the water with a great view!

Check out the size of their burgers!!

Denny's Latin Style-just had to take a pic. We didn't actually eat there.

Highlight of the trip...SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS!!. It was such a neat experience. We swam with a mother dolphin and her baby.

Another yummy meal at Bubba Gumps at Ft. Lauderdale Beach

Thanks John and Christy for showing us such a great time, it really was just the vacation we needed!

FINALS WEEK

Brett's had a rough week of studying and getting ready for Finals. I've tried to be busy, out of the way, and not a distraction-it's actually been a great week for me (and I feel a little bad about it, because it's been grusome for Brett!)

Monday: I was in bed by 9:30pm. I can't remember the last time I went to bed that early. Brett studied until 2:00am--Rebember the freshman days of college when we did that every night and still got up for 8am class?? How??

Tuesday: I was in bed by 10:00pm. Brett studied until 3am. Loving the sleep I'm getting, but poor Brett.

Wednesday: Brett took a break from studying. We did P90X "Core Synergistics" together. It wasn't Brett's typical kind of workout-I laughed my head off watching him! It wasn't a great workout for me-I was laughing too hard to do anything. But it was fun, and it was time with him , so it was great!

Thursday: GIRLS NIGHT!! I went to dinner with Kim and Megan Griffin. Noodles & Red Mango. We just sat around eating, talking, and laughing for 3 hours! I loved it! Brett studied all night.

Friday: I'm going to a comedy show with some girls I work with, Leanna & Katherine. Brett is taking two finals today and studying all night:(

Saturday: I'm running the Salt Lake 1/2 marathon at 7:00am. Brett is taking another final at 7:00am. After that, more studying, for another final that afternoon. I've got a friend's bridal shower-woot woot, then softball practice (if I can walk) for our company co-ed city league team. Brett will be studying. Then, dinner with the Chase & Ash-our last hoorah with them before our friends & neighbors move back to DC.

Sunday: RELAX. REST. Brett will study all day for ONE more final on Monday!

Monday: Brett takes his last final!!! THEN WE START PACKING.

TUESDAY: This will be a great day!! Goodbye Utah---HELLOOOO FLORIDA!!!

Yes we are going on a little vaca' to Florida--for a week!!! We're going to Miami to visit Brett's brother John, his wife Christy, & their kiddos Austin & Brock!! I can't tell you how excited we are! I've had a fun-filled/sleep-filled week and Brett has had a painful week of studying and finals, and no sleep. He soooo deserves a break!

We are ready for the beach, warm weather, good food, and great company!

Date Night With Kyle

Brett and I decided to take our niece Kyle out on a date for her 6th birthday. We started the night with a 5:00pm showing of Hannah Montana, the movie. Kyle loves Hannah Montana, and Brett has a secret admiration as well. We all loved it! After the movie we took Kyle to her restaurant of choice, Cafe Rio, which just happens to be right next to Maggie Moo's Ice Cream, so of course we stopped there for dessert afterwards:)

Kyle ready for Hannah Montana!!!

Had to capture the Hannah Montana bag!Waiting for the movie to start

Too Cute!

We had so much fun with Kyle! After the fun was over we took her home and hung out at Ryan and Laura's house for a while, and played with the other kids.

I'd like to say the night was a huge hit with Kyle.....but the next morning we received the following text from Ryan (which he had sent at 3am): "Kyle just puked popcorn, gummy bears, soda, Cafe Rio, and ice cream all over her room. Thanks for showing her a good time!"

Next time we'll know not to spoil her with all the food and candy she wants!!! Hopefully there can be a next time??

Thanks Kyle for the fun, and sorry Ryan and Laura for the middle of the night puking and cleaning up throw-up!!!

Let the Fun Begin!

Friday night we drove up to Vivian Park for a bonfire with friends. It was a fun night of roasting marshmallows,eating smores, roasting starbursts (you should try this, they are super yummy when they're soft and warm), and simply just hanging out! We got lucky with great weather. It was just a fun night to hang with friends.

Just enjoying the warm fire!!

Brett's buddy Taylor
Jan & Kristina

Todd and Tawnie

Mitch & Alex PayneBlake, Talon, Aaron & Mercediesand us!!

Lookin' forward to more fun times with friends this spring & summer!

Congrats Ty and Ash!!

My brother Tyler and his wife Ashley just had their second baby, Crew McKay Mortensen! He's got cheeks and lips just like his sister, Gracie. I can't wait to see him and hold him!!! Gracelyn and Crew are the only grandbabies my parents have! I think they need some cousins!

(Spencer, Carly??..just kiddin'!)