We're back... and yet, we're gone...

Remember that time we got married, and we said we would blog about all the fun stuff we do?  Yea, there's really only two possibilities to explain why we haven't posted anything since February...

1. We aren't having any fun, so there's nothing to blog about.  Or..
2. We are having so much fun, we don't have enough time to blog about it!

I hope you guessed #2.  Well, there's good news.  Time seems to be in excess these days because we moved to Clovis, New Mexico, so I'll have plenty of time to blog!!!  Clovis is a small town in eastern New Mexico, described as a dusty, desert town.  It's not that small; populating about 35,000 people, and we're determined to explore every nook and cranny of this town and the surrounding ones!

Everyone helped us pack up a truck, then mom and dad helped us make the drive across the country... okay, just across the state line!

On Saturday morning, we unpacked the truck in a mere 45 minutes (thanks to the guys from church who came to help), and my mom and dad left Nate and me to do the fun stuff... unpack!!!

It was a fast goodbye, and I didn't feel the effects of them being gone until later that night.  Believe me, I cried like a little baby.  But it's time to face the facts.  We are New Mexicans now.  I don't live in the same apartment complex with two of my sisters and their families anymore.  I don't live 2 miles away from my parents and other sister.  I don't have the ability to see my brother, sister-in-law, and two babies (age 7 and 2... still my babies) whenever I want.  Homesick will be part my soul now.  Sounds depressing, right?!  Don't let me fool you... Nate and I couldn't be more excited about this new opportunity. 

Let the new adventures begin.  And this time I promise will probably blog more often so that our families and friends can keep up with our latest and greatest adventures.  The most current adventure we are embarking on is buying a home.  More pictures to come!

A new "business" adventure...

It's no secret that we take a lot of pictures.  We think a picture says it all, and we see the value in capturing memories in a 4x6 or 5x7.  A few generations ago, memories were preserved using 35mm slides.  But these days, everything is going digital.  That's where we come in!


We've started a part-time "business" out of our home.  We put "business" in quotes because we're not sure which direction this will go.  So far, business is BOOMING... our first client was my dad, and our second client was my mom.

We have inherited a Nikon Super CoolScan 5000.  Seriously, that's what Nikon named their scanner!  And with the Nikon Super CoolScan 5000, we are able to digitize your 35mm slides.  It's easy.  You give us the slides, and we will scan and edit them for only .35 cents per slide.  We will then return your pictures to you ready to be shared digitally with the world through social media, prints, or created into books using various websites like Shutterfly.  The options are unlimited.

Here are some priceless classics from our last project.  We love every little detail about these photos, including the glasses, clothing, couches, and hair-dos.

Things we know how to do... how well we do them is anyone's guess: teaching (how-to add/subtract fractions, write a persuasive essay, the process of photosynthesis), fill cavities, run, make a quilt, swim, lift weights, play volleyball or golf, read, bake, and sew.

Things we have no idea how to do: start a business.  

So here it is... our first attempt at a small business!  If you have slides that are snuggled up under a blanket of dust in the basement or garage, or you know of someone, send them our way.   

Moving Day...

It's nice to live in Colorado for many reasons, but the #1 nicest reason became evident last May when we had lots of family to help Nate and I move into our new apartment!  Everyone helped.  My mom watched all the kids while we got our muscles together to move everything from one apartment to the other.  Luckily, we were moving into a bigger one-bedroom apartment in the same complex, so it was "quick".   

My family is a lot like an ant farm.  No one asked any questions, people silently piled on as many boxes and bags as they could carry, and loaded it into the cars.  The bad news was I lived on the third floor, and we were moving onto the third floor of another building.  Good thing we all have "runner's legs"... nice and strong!  As the last few loads were brought up to the new apartment, family members started dropping like flies.  We were exhausted...

Nate and I spent the weekend trapped in the apartment, putting things away, hanging pictures, painting that hideous green wall, and getting settled.  Our apartment is perfect, and what we call home!

Small Town: Evergreen...

Nate and I had Monday off, so we pulled out a map, picked a town, and got excited about Evergreen!  Evergreen is only an hour from the city, and it was gorgeous.  They are known for Evergreen Lake, which this time of year was frozen solid.  People from surrounding towns come to ice fish, ice skate, and play ice hockey on the lake.  Nate and I walked out onto the lake, and I demanded a picture to prove that we did it... and Nate says I'm not adventurous, HA!

Lunchtime crept up on us, and there were so many options for holes in the wall.  Based on recommendations by the locals, we went to The Little Bear Saloon.  It was a cute little place, definitely a dive, but they had good burgers.  We tried to engrave our names on the table, but there was zero space.

My favorite part about small towns are the sweet shops!  Every small town has some locally owned sweet shop, and this town was no exception.  In downtown Evergreen, "Seasonally Yours" had everything we needed.  What we needed today was SALT WATER TAFFY!!!  We found my favorite candy with loads of mouth-watering flavors.  

Feeling adventurous, Nate tried a new flavor of salt water taffy... Maple Bacon!  It was surprisingly good, and Nate couldn't leave town without getting a few more.

Evergreen was awesome.  We spent the rest of the day shopping in downtown, and driving up the mountain to check out the view.  Colorado is sprinkled with these small towns, and we sure love the feel of them.  Our day trip felt like the perfect escape we needed.

Trip Treat: Nate has spoiled me with picking something from each small town for our home!  This trip I picked this little owl.  It looks perfect in our kitchen, and it will always be a reminder of the memories we made this weekend.

Pinterest Exchange Club...

Macy had this great idea to start a "Pinterest Exchange Club".  My sisters and I pin a million things, but hardly have the time to make anything.  So we each took one week out of the month, and we are supposed to make something off a pinboard, then you share your creation with a special delivery to each sister.  Easy enough... I'm in!  Which leads me to this week's creation.

Cake pops.  So cute, so delicious, and so easy, right?!  WRONG!!!  I wanted to make these...

But with a realistic thought, I knew I needed to start with something more simple.  So I lowered my expectations to these...

I stumbled upon a humbling experience in the kitchen (which happens all too often) when this was the best I could do...

Nailed it.

Hiking with special shoes...

I guess if you live in Colorado, there is a certain list of activities you must participate in.  Snowshoeing is one of those activities.  Nate and I ventured out of our warm apartment for a snowshoeing adventure with my sister Brook and her friend, David.

Snowshoeing was like hiking with special shoes.  We lucked out with the weather, although it was really windy and cold at the top!  

On our way down, we ventured off the trail... which made me plenty nervous!  I don't stray from a recipe and I don't venture off a trail.  What's the phrase?  Hold to the rod?!  Yea, that's me.  We finally found the trail again, and the rest was easy sailing!  Nate and I had a blast, and enjoyed the adventure.

We ended the day with Beau Jo's pizza, hot tubbing, and cuddling in a million blankets with our space heater.  Home sweet home :).