Monthly Round Up (August 2017)

     August has been a good month, and an exciting month.  Our first whole month in our new home!!  We did, after all, just get our keys on July 31st, so to start off this months recap... KEYS!!!
   
     We got the keys to our new home!! And we LOVE it!! Of course we had to take a picture at the front door with our new key.  We have already begun to enjoy the many blessings of a bigger home.  We have had the opportunity to invite more friends and family into our home than we ever have before, playing games, eating dinner, and enjoying group Family Home Evenings.  These are things Lance and I have wanted to do since we very first got married, and now we finally have that opportunity. 
     Lance and I enjoyed a trip to the Payson, Utah temple. Unfortunately, silly me, I had unknowingly left my purse at the gym (thankfully it was just the small Clubhouse Gym and no one touched it), so I did not have my temple recommend with me.  The walk around the grounds was beautiful though, and we enjoyed every minute of it.  There were many brides and grooms coming out of the temple that day, so it reminded us of our own wedding day. Turned out to be a great day for a walk down memory lane. 
     We went rafting!  I don't remember the last time I went rafting down the river, but I know it was at least a few years ago, so I was pretty excited when my sweet husband asked if I wanted to go rafting.  It was a blast, both relaxing and tons of fun depending on what part of the river we were on.  We rented a two person inflatable kayak.  Highly recommended!
Then of course we shared a simple picnic before heading back into town. 
     There a couple things to go along with this one.  One, we got our very fist dining room table!! Two, our first ever holiday decorations!  Hooray for Fall! Three, we can actually have people over for dinner now! At our last place, we didn't have room anywhere for a dining room table, so we bought a plastic camping table that we pushed into a corner for dinner every night. Now it sits outside holding our little grill, and really will be a camping table.  
          
     Solar Eclipse Selfie!!!  Of course we had to take pictures. The solar eclipse made for nice little break from work, right before lunch.  Our company was great, providing glasses and doughnuts for everyone.  Lance and I weren't able to eat any of course, but I was happy to find my husband standing outside with jerky, so we could have a yummy treat right along side everyone else. 

      My cousin came home from her mission!!! It was so good to be back in Idaho for the weekend to see my family, especially my cousin as she has been gone serving an LDS mission for the last eighteen months.  As much as I love Utah, Idaho will always be home. 
     This probably had to be one of the best parts of my month... not only did I get to see my cousin after a year and half, but I also got to see some of the other best people I know, including my dad, Grandma, and a few close friends from Treasure Valley Tae Kwon Do!  It was awesome.  We all went bowling, and then mini golfing before we all finally split ways.  I have been pretty stinkin' blessed to know such amazing people, and I am so glad I got go spend time with everyone.  Can't wait until the next trip!
Oh, yeah, and I got to hold a praying mantis.  That was pretty cool. 



      I think it goes without saying that August was a pretty great month, what with the new house, cooling off in the river, seeing some seriously great people, and staring at the sun.  It is months like these that cause me to look forward to the coming months with a greater anticipation for the countless wonderful things they are sure to bring. 

 *Feel free to leave a comment below with the best things that happened to you this month!
For more About Me, visit http://blog.allthingstristen.com/search/label/About%20Me

      
     


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