That time we had a dog for a week

More pictures from our backpacking trip. When we got home we picked up Pablo (the skinny one on the pictures) and he's staying with us for the week. Mollie (the fat one in the pictures) is pretty much low key and so we're not used to this kind of energy from this puppy, but it's been really fun to have him. He really likes to steal our socks and so we've become very clean people the past few days, always aware of what's left on the floor.

Mollie isn't as big as a fan of Pablo as we are. I brought him over to hang out last night and all he wanted to do is follow Mollie around because she's just...so cool. After a few minutes, she got annoyed, turned around and slapped him in the face with her paw. It was soft and she didn't hurt him but he got the message. Now he's a little bit scared of her. I guess I've never know this about Mollie because she isn't usually around puppies but she's kind of a crotchety old granny (i kind of like her for it though). And fat. Oh gosh. She looks so fat next to Pablo.

My parents are making me go through the last of my stuff at their house. Last night I found so many pictures/notes that remind me how awkward I was as a preteen and how obsessed I was with soccer. I found my book of 'inspirational quotes' and 90% of them were from Mia Hamm. The other 10% were from other soccer players:

I'm going to post awkward pictures next and you know you don't want to miss those.

Island Lake 2012

happiness is:

taking fridays off of work
crystal clear lakes
camping
cliff Jumping/swimming
trying roasted marshmallow with banana
building your own fire pit (props to Elliott)
campfire conversations (i feel that any time you have a fire with friends you walk away better friends. There's something about it that makes you open up... and in some people's case become extra funny).
uinta mountains
star gazing and accidentally catching the Perseid meteor shower (we saw a shooting star that will probably go down in history, and saw 12 shooting stars in just an hour).
sleeping in a tent during thunderstorms

Spending 3 days with good friends

Obviously, we went backpacking this weekend and it couldn't have been any better. We hit up Island Lake in the Uinta Mountains with two of our best friends. There was a lot of hiking, cooking, swimming, and laughing.

We saw so many dogs along the way and decided next time we do this, we were going to foster a dog from the pound for a few days since none of us are ready for the commitment of actually owning one.

I'm wondering why we didn't do this until August. Where has the summer gone?

More pictures to come.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

New York, New York

Back in June we ventured out to NYC (yeah it's been that long since I've posted anything). Elliott had a work conference in D.C. a few days earlier so while he was gone, I worked like a responsible adult and then flew out and met him. He took a bus down from D.C. and then we met at 1:30 a.m. at the apartment we found on Air BnB.

::Day One::

We walked across the Willamsburg bridge (where our apartment was) into the city. 

After some exploring, we promptly found a Chop't for lunch (my request).

Although we had the help of our phones, we did really know where we were going any ran into places on purpose, like 30 Rockefeller Plaza. This, of course, was a big deal because we are big fans of 30 Rock.

Before leaving, we had friends who gave us some must-do's, and finding a Mr. Softee ice cream truck was one of them. We found, we ate, and then we tried to find one again the rest of the trip and to Elliott's disappointment, never did.

Strand Book Store: So many books and really cool bags.

The Met. Monet, Picasso, Pollock. Very cool (both the paintings and the AC).

There was a series of little scribblings at the museum. The top right pictures say "My brother just got married to a two-headed women. Is she pretty you ask. Well, yes and no." I liked that.

::Day Two::

The High Line (probably our favorite thing). This park/urban garden used to be a raised abandoned train track. I'm not sure how long it is but it's amazing. Green grass, water, food, outdoor movies. If we lived in New York I think we would come back often.

Chelsea Market: delicious food and indoor market.

Times Square: because when Elliott's never been to NY before, you just have to see it.

Serendipity: Three words: Frozen Hot Chocolate. I came here with my mom and friends the first time I went to NYC and had to come back. The wait was an hour and a half so while we were waiting, we found a....what do you call it... tram? that went out to one of the islands. 

::Day Three::


9/11 Memorial. We both agreed that it was classy and beautiful.

Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge

Went to dinner with my brother

Central Park

Found Waldo

Somewhere during the four days we also ate a lot of good food, took the Staten Island ferry, and met up with our friends Steph and Adam.

We have more pictures on our camera (you know, that thing that is not an iphone), but I'm too lazy to add those. Maybe later.

It's Sunday. We both took naps on accident and dinner is in two hours. I love Sunday dinner.

Today at church a three year old told me that her little sister pulled her hair while she was still in her mom's 'tummy'. Another one told me that he tries not to smoke that often.

Looking forward to these next two weekends. Backpacking and then Sun Valley.

Oh, and we're also dog sitting our friends bug (pug+ boston terrier). Excited.

Distance

Elliott turned 26 last week. This is weird for me because him being 26 means that I've known him for over 4 years. Even weirder is that of those 4 years we've been married for 3. That might sound crazy, but I wouldn't want to share those stats with anyone else.

Birthdays have the potential to suck when you're older. When you're young, we all know the magic of the day. If you're lucky, it falls on a weekend but even if it doesn't, you get to come home from school and have a party with your friends. Elliott's was on a Friday. We both work on Friday. I work until 7:00. Knowing the suck-potential (for lack of a better term) of the day, I woke Elliott up with breakfast in bed. Buttermilk pancakes with fresh cream and raspberries with hash browns on the side (cooked just how he likes. He calls them restaurant hash browns). We went our separate ways for the day and met back up after work and went for sushi.

The day was topped off with homemade chocolate cake (this recipe seriously rocks the socks off any other chocolate cake recipe I've tried... If you want a good recipe, I'm handing it out), and presents with my family. Ok, with my parents only.

I've had a slice of the left over cake every day since and I'm not even worried about it.

Elliott lost (or won depending on how you look at it) the war with his beard and washed it down the sink. I'm always surprised how much younger he looks without it. I like it. I think it's because his beard hides his smile lines.

Father's Day was delicious. We ate a lot of good food (including this vegetable dish which I will be posting the recipe for later because I love it) and showered my dad with a copy of Paranormal Activity 3 and a gift card for gelato. Give this guy scary movies and ice cream and he's happy, which makes him the perfect movie partner.

Elliott flew out to DC yesterday morning for his conference and after delayed flights, skipping lunch, and getting ripped off by the taxi driver, he made it safe and sound and is enjoying the beauty of my favorite restaurant back east: Chop't.

I am running away on Friday afternoon to meet him in New York to explore, eat, and visit friends and my brother. Can't wait.

Moments

We're back from STG. We lucked out with temperatures in the mid 50's and enjoyed a lot of blue blue sky (which is nice when you live in Salt Lake during the winter). Mollie spent her days at the doggie daycare playing with new friends and her nights with us at the Bueler home. She had a pretty nice set up on the drive to and from if you ask me (see picture below). She's not spoiled. Right.

 My mom and I started a project last week and were able to finish it tonight. We made a new shade for her kitchen. The fabric is from Ikea and we just made mental notes on the previous shade while we were tearing it apart. For our first sliding shade, I'd say we didn't do too bad: