Battle wounds

I have battle wounds in my fight against the trail. I won again but the trail got in a couple of hits. 

This on is from a tree. I couldn't stop or really turn so I ran into a tree. :) I felt a little stupid but it happens and scars are cool. If you can't tell this is my forearm.

This one is where I fell on a rock. I was trying to go around a sharp turn and I lost my balance and landed knee first on a rock. Luckily I had my wonderful husband there to scream MEDIC!!! and talk about amputation while I got up and brushed my self off and got back on the bike.

To be honest I'm actually really excited that I have wounds. I feel cooler some how. Like my scars make me more special then everyone else. No offense to everyone else. :)

Biking

So this Saturday Rick and I were finally able to go biking. We've tried to go a few times but they all fell through for various reasons mainly consisting of the weather making everything muddy and either me or Ricky being busy. But this last Saturday day everything seemed to be on our side, I had energy to do it before work, Ricky didn't have to work and the weather has been wonderful this past week.

The place we went isn't really much but it's better then nothing. It's called the Buck Creek Trails and it's just north of town, about 20 minutes from where we live. 

This is where we started. It was the beginners trail, only about 1.5 miles long, but it was a lot of fun to ride. Lots of twists and turns and hills and rocks and stuff to make it seem difficultish. I loved the sign in the back saying watch for rattlesnakes. 

This is me on my awesome bike looking like I know what I'm doing. 

Here's Ricky, looking all studly and stuff with his back pack.

This one we actually took as we were getting ready to leave cause I forgot to. You can see our bikes in the truck. 

We actually went through the trail twice cause we had time to spare but weren't sure how long the other trails were. Maybe Monday we can find out.

Ricky's Party

Ricky's Birthday... Well let's just say that I felt like a failure and don't plan on throwing anymore parties for a while.

I was really proud of my decorations.

I thought I did an excellent job on the sign.

And for having a ten dollar budget I thought I did really good.

I'm sure it looks pretty shoddy but hey there is only so much you can do with a $10 decoration budget. The reason I was limited to $10 was cause I was planning on having at least 10 people coming and I figured food was more important. Ha ha ha... Only three people where able to show up. I never really got mad, I was just really sad cause I couldn't even throw together a birthday party. But Ricky is of course the best, he laughed it off and was just happy that I even tried to throw a party. I'm sure all the presents I got him helped.

The first and biggest and most expensive present was the new dual exhaust system for Ricky's truck.

He got a flow master as you can see. I don't really understand what that means but I'm sure someone with car knowledge does.

I also got him these sexy shorts. He wanted a pair and Kohl's was having a big sale so I said let's do it.

Finally was this surprise present I got him with the little money I had left. I had to wrap it in paper bags cause I couldn't find where I put our wrapping paper. My favorite thing is the duct tape bow. I think it's cute.

I got him these cool strap thingys so that we can tie down stuff on the truck, like our bikes or a piano that I eventually want to get. :)

So now Ricky is a very happy boy, and we now have a weeks worth of burgers and cake that we need to find some way of eating or using before it goes bad, cause I don't like burgers very much and you can only eat so much cake.

Life is life

So life has been crazy. I'm back to working. It's actually not too bad. Surprisingly I've missed having a purpose for getting up in the morning. That sounds a little depressing. Sorry I'm really not depressed. I'm actually doing really good. I guess I'm just ready to take on more in my life then just working part time. So I've decided to look into taking some college classes. Granted I haven't looked a ton but I am looking.

The last couple of weeks have been busy. I find it's hard to work knowing that the paycheck isn't going to come for another week. I got to see my brother Troy and his wife Sarah. They came down to Texas to adopted three little girls, all sisters, from Dallas, and decided to come visit me and Ricky. They weren't able to stay for very long but it was really nice to see family.

Ricky's birthday is this Saturday. He's really excited. I am too, I'm just not looking forward to the fact that I have to work that day. So I'm trying to throw together a party for him tomorrow. It's not going to well cause everyone I've talked to so far is either busy or sick. It sucks but hopefully I'll be able to get something together. Too bad I don't have more family closer, cause then all I would have to do is invite the family and BOOM! instant party. :) But I'm sure working for it wont be too bad either.

If it goes well I'll post it here. I guess if it doesn't I'll probably do the same thing. :)

Wish me luck!

I've been tagged.

I've been tagged!

I was tagged by my friend Sydney. Probably cause I'm following her blog. :) But I figured it would be fun to do so here it goes.

4 shows I like to watch...
1. The Office
2. Scrubs
3. Chuck
4. Anything on the Do It Yourself network. (I don't own a house yet but when I do all this information I'm building up will be very useful)

4 things I am passionate about...
1. The gospel
2. My husband
3. My family
4. Kids (I really want them, but am still waiting for Ricky to be ready to have them)

4 phrases I say a lot...
1. "don't judge me"
2. "I don't get it"
3. "I love you!"
4. "Hi! Welcome to Kohl's"

4 things I have learned from the past...
1. God's plans are bigger than our own
2. moving away from family can be a very good growing experience
3. I love my family!
4. life needs the downs so that there can be ups.

4 places I want to go...
1. anywhere that I can enjoy the ocean
2. Canada
3. New York
4. Europe

4 things I did yesterday...
1. Went to Church
2. Watched The Office
3. Blogged
4. Tried to enjoy my anniversary alone (not too much fun)

4 things I am looking forward to...
1. Starting a family
2. Going home to visit family
3. Enjoying the summer
4. My whole family being together again

4 things on my wish list...
1. Power tools
2. A real Piano
3. To live closer to family
4. To convince Ricky we can have more then 3 kids.

4 people I am tagging...
1. Anyone
2. Everyone
3. That guy over there ->
4. Anyone who reads my blog, (if they want)

Year One

It has officially been one year since Ricky and I have been married. It's been a crazy year at that.

This is one of my favorite wedding photos.

Starting with a crazy week of finalizing all the plans and actually getting married, A honey moon that was one night in a hotel that was freezing and smelt like sulfur and waking up to 3-4 inches of snow, a week of living with his mom till he was supposed to drive to Texas, and a spur of the moment decision that left me jobless and in the car with him.

This was actually right before we started our three day drive to Texas. We were so excited that we could just get up and leave and no one could tell us what to do.

I remember the week or 2 that we spent in a hotel trying to find someplace to live, until the guy at the housing department finally gave us a house that was "above Ricky's pay grade."

I was so excited to have a house to live in.

The month or two that we spent sleeping on an air mattress and eating off a card table cause that was all we could afford to do.

Our house looked so pitiful.

The months of boring nothingness cause I was too scared to go anywhere or do anything, and it drove Ricky crazy, till finally he convinced me that getting a job would be a good thing, and that sharing the car wouldn't be as hard as it might seem.

This picture is actually from Ricky's birthday last year.

I remember getting asked to be primary pianist, and it taking about a month or more before they actually sustained me to that position, even though I had been playing the entire time.

This is the only picture I could find of me and a keyboard. I look so pretty in it.

I remember Ricky's mom and step-dad coming down and bringing most of our wedding presents cause they wouldn't fit in our car. They really helped us out then too by buying our table and chairs and a tv for us.

Here's the table. The house still looked bare back then but it sure looks better then just the card table.

I remember getting our couches and how upset Ricky was at how long it took for them to delivered, after we had bought them.

This doesn't show our furniture too well but it does show that we have some and the tv from Ricky's parents.

I remember having to use the GPS for the longest time cause we would get lost if we didn't.

I remember the day I found out my dad's cancer had spread to the brain and that we were barely able to afford a plane ticket to get me home.

And that dad died not long after Ricky got there.

And that Ricky was alway quick to make sure I was still able to laugh, and he didn't mind that I cried a lot or was moody with him for the few months.

And that he still made me live life and go out and have fun, cause it was alright to.

I remember Thanksgiving, we threw a big party cause everyone was away from family.

This is just to show how many we were planning on. It was a lot of fun.

I remember Christmas and how we weren't even supposed to have one but Ricky lucked out and got work off for it so we had a party with the sister missionaries and one of Ricky's friends from work.

This is the only kind of real group picture I got for Christmas. And it really doesn't even show Sister Ficken very well at all.

Here's Sister Smith. I would feel bad if I didn't put her in here.

I remember that my birthday was lame, but I didn't mind cause I was with Ricky.

I think I've probably used this picture before but I don't really mind showing it again.

I remember how frustrating trying to get a truck was cause we had and still don't really have any credit.

Now I know I've used this one before.

And now I'm back to today! I just hope that this coming year is just as good.

Spring Break

Spring Break was here and now it's gone. I've never really seen a week go by so fast. I'm really sad to see it go because I was lucky enough to have my mom and little brother here for spring break, so both Ricky and I got the week off from work. It was great to not have to work and be able to spend all week with Ricky and my family. Plus we actually got to go out and do stuff.

The first night they were here wasn't very exciting because it is a 3 hour drive from Lubbock to here and that on top of the almost 10 hours of travel they had of driving from Rupert, Id. to Salt Lake City, then flying from Salt Lake to Vegas to Lubbock is a bit much to really add anything too energetic to, so we just took them out to dinner and enjoyed an evening of relaxation.

Don't they look tired?

The next day was Sunday so they got to go to church with us and see and meet our ward. The rest of the day was mostly me making dinner while everyone else caught up on beauty sleep then watching movies and playing Rock Band the rest of the night.

Monday was spent shopping for groceries for the week, and giving Mom and Daryl a basic tour of the base and Abilene, and then home to play Rock Band.

Tuesday was a tour of the airplanes here on base, a little more shopping and then more Rock Band and FHE cause we forgot to do it Monday.

My mom took a picture of ever airplane. It was kind of funny. She also got quite a few good ones of me Ricky and Daryl.

It was actually a lot of fun going around and learning more about all of these planes.

Wednesday was exciting for Daryl and Ricky cause we had our friend David take them up in a smaller airplane and go for a crazy ride, while me and mom went and did some more shopping, then came home and relaxed the rest of the day.

Daryl was really excited about this, and I don't think he was disappointed.

They took a lot of pictures so I'm just putting these two because they show them inside the plane and that they were really high up.

Thursday was the zoo and then fishing the rest of the day.

We took tons of pictures here, and so that I don't bore anyone I'm only putting a few.

This owl seemed to be really angry. It was funny.

There was a game of king of the stump going on with the turtles.

Daryl caught a huge fish almost right off the bat.

Daryl was having a ton of luck while fishing cause the second fish he caught wasn't too long after the first.

If I remember right this was actually the fourth fish Daryl caught, cause he got one but it got away before we were able to get a picture of it.

Ricky actually didn't catch any this time but He's sure to go back and fish again, but so he didn't feel left out I took a picture of him with the live bait on the hook.

Friday was relax and watch movies and then to a Bonzi place for dinner and finally watch a crazy storm roll in.

Daryl's idea of relaxing is always playing on the computer. I think he had a game going on the entire time he was here.

And today was me getting up extra early to take mom and Daryl back to Lubbock so they could go home. I didn't take any pictures cause I was too tired to remember much about anything except driving safe and staying awake.

Oh also, Friday Ricky and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary together. Technically it's this Sunday, but since it is a Sunday and Ricky has weekend duty, we did it friday. He surprised me with a Kitchen Aide mixer. I was so excited!

I couldn't believe he actually got it for me. I was saving up to get one for Christmas, but now i guess I can put that toward something for Ricky.

So because he did that for me I let him go buy a 22. He's been wanting a gun and since I've already told him he's getting his hand gun for his birthday he decided a 22 would be a good one to get now.

He was pretty happy about getting it, now he just has to find time to use it.