being married to a grown-up

Since the very beginning of our relationship, I've referred to Chris as a "grown-up." Back when I first met him, he had just graduated college, had a job at Primary Children's Hospital, and was 24--A GROWN-UP, GUYS! And then there was me... living with my parents, working a cush campus job, and just completing my sophomore year of college. ha. I remember being so intimidated by Chris! Like, who is this guy and why does he have his sh*z together?!

Three years later, and I still feel the exact same way. Chris is such a grown-up! A successful one, too. Chris has progressed very quickly during his few years with Intermountain Healthcare, and I'm so, so proud of him! I bring this all up because for the past couple of months, Chris has been going to the Intermountain Healthcare advanced training program--a program you have to be hand-picked to attend! And it's kind of rare for people Chris' age or with Chris' experience (or lack of) to be chosen to go to this training. But it doesn't surprise me one bit that Chris was chosen since he's so hardworking + smart + personable and... everybody just loves Chris! 

I don't even get to be with "work Chris," but I know everything that I just said is true. I saw it with my own eyes tonight at the dinner party that Intermoutain takes all the employees who complete the training to, which is a huge perk to being married to a grown-up because I don't think I've been to a fancier restaurant in my life! We got to go to a place in Salt Lake called Valter's and holy fancy! This Del Taco lovin' couple almost didn't even know what to do! ("Is that my plate or your plate? Why are there so many glasses?!") 

It was so fun getting to see "work Chris" and see all the people he's been with that respect and adore him as well. I love that I married a grown-up who is so driven and hardworking all while being funny and optimistic. That's what makes Chris such a good grown-up. 

Chris, you're kind of a big deal...

and I'm so blessed to have  you teach me how to be a grown-up so that one day I can get my sh*z together like you.

I love you. 

Crewcation A-Z

This last weekend we went on a "crewcation" with our friends, the Fox's and the Sweat's! They're pretty much our go-to people to hangout with, and we don't really try to hangout with anyone else--if it's not broken, don't fix it, right?! Pretty sure that's been Chris' attitude for like, 23 years... since that's how long he's been friends with his "crew," so it only made sense that we plan a little vacation with them! We decided to hit up St. George and just relax and go on other little adventures while we were there. It was so, so fun and I think it's safe to say that there will be more crewcations to come! I'm hoping for a Crew Cruise someday...

Anyway, since I'm still in vacation mode and just want to eat popcorn for breakfast and sit in a condo with blasting A/C that we don't have to pay for, I'm just going to try and keep blogging about our five day vacation as simple as A-B-C and easy as 1-2-3... but seriously. I'm giving you the ABC's of our crewcation--enjoy!

A is for Adult pool, where we got kicked out of for playing ultimate Frisbee.
B is for Bellagio fountains and Blisters from such a deceivingly far walk there.
C is for Cheese Cramps (...ask Chris) and for Crew-ettes who stick together when the husband's go do things we don't want to do.

D is for Dr. Pepper because, DUH!
E is for Emerald Pool hike at Zion's and singing Wicked's One Short Day the rest of the day because of it.
F is for Freddy's! Because Scott insisted we eat there. Maybe F should just be for Food... since we ate more than a lot of it.
G is for Golfing & Gambling (and why the crew-ettes stick together).
H is for Hokulia's! The picture says it all...

I is for Igloo, because that's what our condo turned into from the boy's blasting the A/C.
J is for Jurassic World. SO EPIC. And I may or may not have a crush on Chris Pratt now...

K is for Kona sunset--the best flavor at Hokulia's.
L is for Late nights. All us old married people stayed up LATE like, beyond midnight late! WHOA!
M is for Manhattan Express roller coaster in Vegas! Sadly, I was unable to talk Chris into that one again.
N is for Nintendo 64--a necessity for the guys.
O is for Outback, where our waiter brought us over ten loaves of bread. It was a good day.
P is for Pizza Rock. If you're in Vegas, just go eat there, please! Two words: Gorgonzola fries.

Q is for Quick service... which there seems to be none of in St. George!
R is for Red Robin because I left my phone there. It's also for racquetball.
S is for Sweating (because, holy 113 degree weather!!), Settlers of Catan, Swig, Swimming, and Shake Shack (the real reason I wanted to go to Vegas).
T is for Tacos. The guys know how to make some mean steak tacos!
U is for... Utah? I got nothing for that one!
V is for VEGAS! Where we made the mistake of trying to drive on the strip.

W is for Walking, and asking Tara how many steps her FitBit said we did.
X if for eXtra food... we went a little overboard at Costco.
Y is for Yearly Crew trips from now on!
Z is for Zion's!! My most favorite day of our crewcation. The Narrows were unreal!

Crewcation 2015 was a success!!!

Until next time,

Mudbloods & Mutton Bustin'

Fun fact about Chris: He is extremely proud that he is from Pleasant Grove. So proud, in fact, that he likes to refer to me as a mudblood whenever I try to act like I'm from there, too. Or if I question why he is turning down this street? The other way is quicker! That's the mudblood way, babe. You don't know. Just let a true person from the Grove navigate.

While I find Chris using Harry Potter terms super sexy, I have to put my foot down and correct him that I'm not a mudblood and he's a squib for even thinking that! Then I have to remind him of how much more PG my family is than his. Did your ancestors settle Pleasant Grove?! Were both your parents raised there? Were your grandparents Grand Marshall's for Strawberry Days?! Yeah, didn't think so! And you don't even order tater tots at Purple Turtle for cryin' out loud! Pleasant Grove is in my blood! I'm a pureblood through and through! And if we're getting real technical, he would actually be considered the mudblood since he was born to the non-Pleasant Grove parents... just saying.

To further my argument for my pureblood status, I'm pretty sure half my family was part of the Strawberry Days rodeo last night. What could be more PG than that?! Anyway, all Harry Potter related debates aside, we had so much fun at the rodeo! My grandma and grandpa Walker are the Grand Marshall's this year, so we got to watch them be wheeled around.

I also got to watch my stud nephew, Dash, do the mutton busting! Not going to lie, I was super nervous for him... especially after watching all the kids before him face plant into the dirt and/or get trampled by the sheep. Is mutton busting not kind of sick and twisted? Obviously not sick and twisted enough to stop it, or stop me from cheering on Dash when he came out! But just sick and twisted enough that I teared up watching some of the little kids get hurt. 

And should I just cut to the chase and mention strawberries and cream now? Because we all know that's the real reason you go the Strawberry Days Rodeo. Yes, I know you can buy the cream and make it at home, but it's just better at the rodeo amiright!? Same with the cheeseburgers. Nothing special about them, but they just hit the spot there. I'm sad we broke tradition and didn't get one this year, but buying Bryce starbursts instead made up for it--we're his new BFF's!

^Shelbs is stupidly hot. It's fine. And speaking of hot... she was also my designated swass checker. Coral is not a forgiving color!^

Even though it was so sticky hot and I didn't get my traditional hamburger, I'd still consider this rodeo a success! I love being with my family and watching guys fall off bulls and eating strawberries and cream! 

...because I'm a pureblood, damnit! 

And purebloods LOVE Strawberry Days! (and order tater tots at Purple Turtle)

The weekend Chris got me to karaoke

Hello, blog world! This last week was pretty crazy busy for me. Mostly because I had to work through Victoria's Secret semi-annual sale (SAS) all week and get yelled at by a customer who just couldn't believe we didn't have the scent strawberries and champagne. How could Vickie's not have it?! The nerve! Oh, and did I mention I saw that lovely customer again this morning while I was out running? Because I did. And I totally thought of all the things I wanted to say to her for a good mile or two...I know where you live, strawberries and champagne lady! ANYWAY. Back to how this last week was busy!...er...busy by Summer of Shay standards anyway. But busy doesn't always mean bad!  My weekend was busy, but the good kind of busy!

I started the weekend off by taking advantage of the fact that Orem Summer Fest is basically my backyard and went to the carnival with my niece and nephew!

Right before we went on the gravitron ride aka Chris' worst nightmare (just spinning the whole time). I've declared Dash my new ride buddy! Just need him to grow a couple more inches before we go to Lagoon. Also, squinty eyes.

Then Chris got home from work early and we took advantage by going to dinner at Mama Chu's (note to self: remember you don't like the salsa there--spicy!!). Then we set out for our double date with Adub and Sarah for some fishin' up at deer creek, which basically turned into one big photo op thanks to me (and the fish that wouldn't bite). 

But I wasn't the only one posing for pictures! Adub and Sarah were in plenty of pictures, too....even if they didn't know about half of them that I took. But aren't they cute?! Sigh... I remember when me and Chris were dating and always had to be touching too ;)

Finally after the sun went down, we started gettin' some bites! It was so fun! I feel like we got to spend some good quality time together. And by 'we', I mean me and Sarah, since the last hour of the date was really me and Sarah talking to each other while Chris and Adub continued to fish as we slowly made our way back to the dock. ha! 

Not pictured (and for good reason): Saturday I went straight from work up to West Jordan to meet Chris at his work party that he was in charge of. He did such a good job putting a work party together!...and ordering more Texas Roadhouse food than needed so that we could bring the leftovers home--he just gets me. Chris had told me all week that there was going to be a karaoke competition at the party and that there were prizes for the winners, so I had a lot of time to mentally prepare myself to watch Chris and others sing karaoke (I get embarrassed for people super easily). The whole way up to the party I just kept cringing at the thought of singing, and had also mentally prepared myself to say "no" if anyone tried to pressure me into it. Yeah... that lasted for about 30 minutes at the party. The next thing I know, I'm singing All About That Bass in front of dozens of strangers while Chris is shaking his butt in front of them! I was relieved to see most of them laughing, but after about a minute their laughs were gone, and I started to become aware of how tight my throat was getting and  how long that song actually is. Ah! I get the tard tingles just thinking about it now! But the pain and suffering that is singing karaoke was worth it! Chris got his village baker gift card, and I got shaky hands the rest of the night. That's true love, guys! 

The only thing that was able to stop my shaking hands that night was coming home to my family and fireworks! It's sort of become a tradition to watch the Summer Fest fireworks from our house and eat treats with everyone. Seriously, I am going to miss our town home when we buy a real house someday... I love where we are at! 

Also, isn't this picture so cool? That was supposed to be me and Chris kissing with the fireworks behind us, but Chris immediately rejected the idea (I think I pushed my luck out on the lake the day before ha), so Koree it was! But for some reason, Chris let me take a picture with him AFTER the fireworks... stinker. 

And... is anybody still reading? I realize this is getting a bit picture heavy, but I guess that's just what happens when you have an awesome weekend that totally makes up for working at Vickie's during SAS. One more week, guys...one more week! I can do it... even if the thought of censoring another bra or recovering one more panty table makes my eyes water. At least I have plenty of candy from the cute "Semi-Annual Sale Survival Kit" Chris made for me to get me through the last week? Oh, and the thought of leaving for St. George on Friday helps, too. 

Anyway, I'd love to stay and dump more phone pictures on you, but I have some leftover Texas Roadhouse rolls to go eat...

Happy Monday!

MARRIAGE

Me: "Goodnight, babe! Love you."

Chris: "Love you, too. I'd cuddle you, but... it's hot."

I knew you meant that because you made sure your hand was touching my back until we fell asleep.

SUMMER 2015

So.. I know I've been talking about the Summer of Shay a lot, and it basically has been summer for me since I graduated in April, BUT! Today was really the first day of Summer, because 1) I was fantasizing about darker skin and shoulder freckles, 2) I was craving watermelon slices (specifically triangle slices, because I'm high maintenance), and 3) I remembered that I freaking love country music. 

Could there BE anything more summer time than those three things?! (must read sentence in Chandler Bing's voice) Probably not. Which is why I started thinking about all the fun things I want to do this summer, because I'm gettin' that summer spirit! So I figured I better put that summer to-do list together before the harsh reality of swass, swoobs, and swustache sets in... and because I have nothing else to post about. Okay, okay, and maybe because I wanted to play around with my photo editor and make a list or two? Indulge me.

Onwards! Summer of 2015 to-do list!

:: Hike around Zion's. Because maybe Chris will be more willing to take pictures with me there? And also because I've lived in Utah my whole life and never been there.

:: VIVA LAS VEGAS (again)

:: Try every drink at Swig. Except the Arnold Palmer because, EW. (Thanks, Jenessa for the idea!)

:: Fishin' on the pontoon.

:: Camping! Mostly so Chris can swoon me with his wilderness skills, but also because I'm suddenly craving s'mores?

:: Lagoon! But I'm going to need a date since Chris hates roller coasters.

:: Bike the murdock trail all the way to the Timpanogos temple (+ stop at Tom and Martha's on the way back and hope they have taquitos).

:: Drive-In movie

:: Eat my body weight in strawberries and cream at the Strawberry Days Rodeo

:: Hike the G, Y, and possibly Timp? (this ambitiousness is obviously the side effect of a late night DP)

:: Shake it for Luke Bryan with my mom and Shelbs! I cry just thinking about it! THE FEELS!

p.s. CAITLYN JENNER! And I thought the black dress in the interview was ambitious...

So many thoughts on that... to post or not to post about?