Out with the Old, in with the New

This summer has been so busy for us! It seems like we have had something going every single week and haven't had any free time for ourselves. We have had missionary farewells, weddings, baby blessings, buying and selling vehicles, family gatherings, and have helped some friends put in their yard. On top of all that Mike works every third Saturday which means even less time for us. But that's ok because as the summer slows down so will our schedule and we will have plenty of time to be together! We are even going camping next weekend, which should be a lot of fun and a great escape!
We are also planning some vacations for next year which should more than make up for time lost this summer! We are planning a possible trip to Europe for the late Spring/early Summer to visit my aunt and uncle who are stationed in Germany before they are reassigned somewhere else. We are also planning on taking the train down to France for a couple of days... if the whole vacation plays out. Then we are planning a trip to Brazil next October to pick up Derek. I am so excited to go to South America and visit the beaches and rain forest!
I just finished my first GRADUATE class this summer! I took a History Seminar class about Immigration, for which we had to meet every day for FOUR hours for two weeks. The class was pretty interesting, will count towards my Master's degree, and only cost $40! Still looking for a teaching job though, seems like there just aren't any openings for History or Health around here.
Our newest adventure has been buying a new truck. We realized that soon we will outgrow our little blue truck and that we are going to need a vehicle (1) with a back row of seats (2) something with 4WD and (3) something that I can drive! We were finally blessed to find a truck that a young couple was selling at an incredibly reasonable price and that meets all of those needs... although Mike is a little put out because it's not a Hemi. We were also blessed to be able to sell our little truck within a week of putting it for sale and for a great price as well! So we bid thee farewell Little Blue Truck and wish you the best taking your new owner back and forth over Sardine Canyon!

Mike, Jess, & Max: Our cute little family!

So this is our first blog post so I guess I will summarize the last two years of our life! Almost two years ago, on June 6, 2008, Mike and I were sealed for time and eternity in the Bountiful Temple. We had been dating for a year and were finally married on the anniversary of our first kiss! Precious! We were so excited to finally be on our own and I was excited to be able to spend every day with my best friend!

We moved to an apartment in Layton, which was the halfway point between Mike's work in Bountiful and my school in Ogden. We lived in that apartment for about 9 months, then decided we needed a bigger place and a washer & dryer of our own! We moved to another (much bigger) apartment in Layton in February of 2009 and we are still living here today. We are so much happier and more comfortable with room to move around and the ability to do laundry in our own home.

The most exciting part of moving to our new apartment was that they allowed dogs!! In April of 2009, Mike and I adopted our new little shelter dog, Max! Max had been living on the streets and was incredibly skinny and malnourished when we brought him home... A year later, however, he has filled out quite nicely(even a little on the chunky side) and spends his days in a nice warm home with plenty to eat and a loving family!! Max is a basset-beagle- healer mix and has been called "unique" and "different" looking by strangers when we go on walks. He definitely has a funny personality and you can tell he is a hound when he howls louder than any dog I have ever heard!

Last year, Mike graduated from the Automotive Techonology program at Weber State and currently works at the Larry Miller Chrysler Jeep & Dodge dealership in Bountiful... So, if anybody needs an oil change or some work on their vehicle feel free to pay him a visit! I recently graduated from Weber State with a Bachelor's Degree in History and Health Teaching. I am currently looking for a job, although my hopes aren't high with all of the teacher lay-offs, but I know that whatever is meant to happen will happen!

That is pretty much our story! We are looking forward to growing together and to experiencing all of the big changes that our future holds (like getting a house, having kids, and raising great danes and mastiffs!) We are loving life and especially loving being married and experiencing the many new and wonderful things that life holds for us!

We're also looking forward to celebrating our two year anniversary next week!! I can't believe how fast the time has gone.. It has truly been the best two years of my life!