seven years

a couple weeks ago e and i went camping for our seventh year anniversary. we drove to the mogollon rim for some cooler air and beautiful scenery {it was also our last weekend with rusty}.

we drove up on friday afternoon and set up camp. e and rusty went for a little mountain bike ride and then we had delicious tin foil dinners that night. early saturday morning e and rusty went on a 10 mile trail run in the mountains. after that we headed to willow springs lake. we hiked down to the lake and jumped in. it was so refreshing and fun {rusty even jumped in}.

after our time at the lake we went back to our site and then took off from there on a little hike to another lake {woods canyon lake} that we had been told had bald eagles nesting in the surrounding trees. when we got to the shore of the lake, the AZ game and fish department had high powered telescopes set up to check out the nest. there was a 12 week old bald eagle in the nest! and not 5 minutes later the mom bald eagle showed up too. we got to watch them together in the nest and it was one of the coolest things we have ever seen. to see those beautiful birds out in the wild was amazing. we stayed there for a good 30 minutes checking them out then headed back to camp. we had hot dogs and chili that night over the fire. sunday morning e went for a short mountain bike ride and then we headed home. it was another great anniversary spent camping.

thursday thoughts

tomorrow = {seven} years since we met in hawaii + {six} years of marriage.

for some reason this number {six} seems even more significant than last years {five}. i've never felt like this in any of the previous years... i've always just thought - ok another year under our belt. and with {five} i felt like - we made it to the big milestone {five}. but maybe it's because now it means we're in the next bracket {like the 6-10 years of marriage bracket, if there is such a thing} i'm not sure. but it feels different... as if i'm on a new level - wiser and seasoned. although i know {six} years is still such a short time + there is still much more to learn. anyway, that's where my thoughts are today. plus a lot more mushy and sentimental musing that i wont smear here. i'll just smear them all over E this weekend.

2003 - hawaii

2004 - engagements in downtown SLC

2005 - dinner with friends in SLC

2006 - backpacking in the unitas

2007 - canada

2008 - u of u football game in san diego

2009 - backpacking in the san bernardino mountains

2010 - huntington beach

we're headed to sedona early tomorrow morning. i am really excited. right now, these weekend getaways are the only thing that keep me going during the week. and i'm nervous because next weekend we have nothing planned.

three cheers for five years

While we were packing Eric came across one of my journals. He opened it up and read the following, "This first year of marriage has been tough, I hope it gets better." Now remember, I was only 19 when we got married and Eric broke his neck only six months after that.

We have come a long way since that first year and it has been much better. In fact it has been incredible. Even the not so great times are great in their own way. Life would be so boring without the ups and downs.

I find myself in a sentimental mood because reflecting on the past five years brings back a lot of memories. I mean a lot. We reminisced a little today on some of the favorite moments in our marriage.

Eric is {in one word} supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Happy Anniversary to us.

photo taken on anniversary hike today in little cottonwood canyon

I am a voter

It was raining this morning. It was crisp and beautiful. Oh how I love California rain.
Eric and I started the day off by supporting Prop 8 and holding signs on the street corner of a main intersection in Redlands. I wish I would have taken a picture of Eric, he was so cute. Everyday I think it impossible to love him more and then the next day I am surprised because I love him more. I should learn after all this time not to be surprised at this.

I got teary eyed several times throughout the day thinking about the impact of peoples choices. I felt the spirit remind me that standing up for what you believe in, is vital. These lyrics ran through my head. Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight.

I am not into politics, AT ALL. I voted today, for the first time ever. I made Eric go with me because doing things with Eric are always more exciting. I was very emotional as I cast my YES vote for Prop 8. What a great experience.

Oh and the best part of today is that I have nothing to do after work. I get to go home and do absolutely nothing. Sometimes nothing is the best thing life can give you.

FOUR

Four years with Eric... I'll just let you ponder on that thought for a while before I move on.

In recognition of this great accomplishment I am going to list 4 of my favorites from the last 4 years

number 4
Eric proposed to me twice. The original was in Snow Canyon. He used a loaner ring to propose because mine wasn't ready yet. When my ring came in, he proposed again. I was taking classes at BYU-Extension. He walked into my class while it was in session (it happened to be a preparation for marriage class) got down on one knee, pulled the ring out and asked me to marry him. It was pretty darn cute. The class loved it and of course so did I.

number 3
I talk fast. I talk really fast to Eric. When Eric can't understand me, he interprets what I am saying. The first time he did this, it was hilarious. I was saying something really fast and of course, he couldn't understand me. So he translated it back to me as Boogie Board. He still does it when I talk fast. It's kind of become a little game we play. It always make me smile.

number 2
In Hawaii, Eric would sing me songs all the time (mostly reggae and U2). I love Eric's voice, but let's be honest, it's not amazing. I loved it though! Some of the sweetest memories of my time with Eric in Hawaii is him singing to me. I loved the way he shared his passion and his interpretation of songs with me. One favorite he sang to me, Grab a Girlfriend by Steel Pulse.

number 1
While we were in Canada we went on the best hike! It was called Sulphur Ridge Peak and it was in Jasper Canada. We hiked to the very tip top and could see for miles. It was gorgeous and an amazing experience. After we finished the hike we dipped in the Miette hot springs at the trail head and ate buffalo burgers at the pool side grill. This is one of the best days I've ever had in my life.

Life is good with Eric Kimble.

A Tribute to the Dating Days

Eric and I just celebrated our 3 year anniversary! Marriage is hard sometimes, but it is better than ever and I love it. All these pictures are from when we were in Hawaii together. What great and happy memories.


This is one of the first times we did anything together. Eric is in the middle and I am on the far right. This is a typical Eric picture (girls all around:)










This is "the hike" it was so fun and then I fell and had to get stitches.


The one on the left is at Pearl Harbor and the one on the right is hiking Diamond Head



Eric took me to the airport and we took this picture right before I flew home to Cali. This last one is us on the day we got engaged.