SNAPSHOT SATURDAY {speed bumps}

Speed bumps 'round these parts are removed during winter months for easier snow removal, and then returned to the roads for summer.

This means, that for the majority of the year, that posted sign in our neighborhood is lying. No speed bump.

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That is, until today.

Thanks Becca and Andrew, for being willing to take one for the team.

WE TOSS 'EM, THEY'RE AWESOME

This weekend, I enlisted the help of my bread maker to prepare pizza dough. Then we each created our very own, personal pan pizza. 

I thought it was only appropriate to display Andrew's pizza tossin' skills in this way...to give you the full effect. Don't you love his satisfied smirk at the end?

And I must give credit where credit is due for the *ahem* cheesy title at the top. It's what Andrew chanted to himself as he worked. 

Never a dull moment with my love. 

And the tasty end result. 

Next time, we want to try fun styles like chicken and ranch, Philly cheese steak, Pesto, white sauce with spinach and chicken, or BBQ wing.

Any other suggestions of yummy, unique kinds of pizza?

MY LITTLE FAMILY

Becca moved into our spare room. She didn't want to pay for a full semester contract when she'll be leaving in a few months for her New Jersey internship.

Look! There is Becca now...wondering why the heck I'm taking pictures when I could be helping her carry her stuff in.

After her internship, she'll takes off to grad school somewhere...or take a job in a big time publishing company on the opposite side of the country...
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It's all very vexing.

But in the meantime, she's content to hang with me...staying up entirely too late watching Jane Austen movies.
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I haven't been to bed on time once since her arrival.

We were cleaning house on Saturday when I came across this image of Andrew in his manly work clothes, unaware of being watched, and mopping the kitchen floor.
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It makes my heart very happy.

Once he realized I was pointing a camera in his direction, he couldn't pass up the opportunity to strike this dramatic pose...with an exclamation of: "See how you make me slave away?!"

He's the most adorable kitchen slave I've ever seen.

I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I wrecked my car. I don't really want to talk about it.

But so as not to leave you hanging, I'll just say that Idaho roads suck in the winter after high winds. Especially when you're maneuvering a sharp curve. And you're late for work. *ahem*

It could have been really bad. But luckily, I missed the oncoming traffic, the fence, the telephone pole, and the trees. So I'm counting my blessings that all I have to show for the ordeal is some mild whiplash and the need for a new front bumper.

My poor car is currently at the car doctor. Meanwhile, I have been provided with a Nissan Quest minivan to get around in. It was rather awkward for me to get used to in the beginning...probably because of the whole not quite being in the mini-van-stage-of-life yet deal. But I've since learned to really enjoy the luxuriousness of the interior, being higher off the ground, and (don't laugh) the greater horsepower.

But this weekend, we took the van out for a date night spin. Driving the mini-van must have been strange for Andrew too, but I didn't understand the extent of it until on our way out the door, he offhandedly suggested we put fake car seats in the back.

My ignoring this, didn't discourage him. Because then, on our way to the movies, Andrew kept randomly yelling things to the back seats like:

Don't make me come back there!

and

Don't make me turn this van around!

I'll keep an eye on him over the next few days, and let you know if his delusions get any worse. In the meantime, if you see a young gal parking her van at the far back corner of the grocery store lot go say hi. It's just me...not used to parking a van...and doing my best to avoid further accidents.

ANDREW'S MAD SKILLS--featured!

Andrew has some pretty awesome skills in the woodworking department. Please allow me to brag shamelessly.

He just finished this nightstand for me. {cellphone pics}




He often builds beautiful furniture to fill the homes they build at work.

He invited me to the shop one evening to check out his latest projects.

Hello. This is me watching him stain...And trying not to get high on fumes...Or get sawdust on my work slacks.

Lesson learned. Don't wear black to the shop.

I was still dressed for work myself {elementary teacher, you remember}.

Here he's working on what will soon be a fancy kitchen table.

This photo was featured on the fabulous blog of Becky Higgins!! I was so honored to receive the e-mail from her. Check out the post HERE.

Continuing on with my brag-fest, this is a headboard similar to the one he made for me.

That fancy kitchen table he was working on? This is the finished product all set up in the fancy house.

This is the fancy house. It's so fun to go through and see what he's been up to.

Above where the table sits, is this ceiling that Andrew put together too. Gorgeous!

Similar to the ceiling he built in the master bedroom.

More beautiful woodwork{still a little dusty from construction}.

And the staircase.

So, anyway. My husband is a stud. But I'm finished bragging now.

For the moment, anyway.

PERFECT

No school or work recently, meant sleeping in and building breakfast together.

One word: Levi's.

Frothy goodness.

Everything's better with crunchy peanut butter.

From our window: a rare blue sky peeking through winter morning clouds.
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 Like I said...perfect.
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CAR RIDE

It was our third trip down to Utah last month, and all the hours on the road were beginning to drive us crazy. (Word.) How 'bout I let you in on a couple minutes of our insanity...

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After half an hour of silence through barren flat lands, Andrew, without taking his eyes off the road, asked:

"Do you wanna have a tickle fight?"

His tone was way too serious for comfort.

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"Don't you dare touch me."

His hand inched in my direction, resting stiffly on the center consul. We sat there for a minute before the suspense became too much for me. I punched him in the arm as hard as I could.

This only caused him to laugh delightedly, so I glared at him.

"Andrew, if you cross this line, I will punch your frickin' lights out." (We have a very honest, open relationship.)

After more hysterical laughter, he inched his hand towards me again, resting it ever so gently between us.

"You're walking a thin line, Mr."

"I'm not going to tickle you. I'm just going to show you affection. Don't you love me?"

"Yes, I love you. But my love for you lessens every time you tickle me."

"I thought you said your love was unconditional ."

"It is...until you tickle me."

"Then it's not unconditional!"

"Okay, fine. My love ISN'T unconditional. So you had better stop!"

These events cycled for some time, but I won't bore you with the particulars. Let's just say there was screaming, punching, karate chopping, and evil hysterical laughter involved. And let me add that it's a miracle we didn't crash and burn on that lonely Idaho highway.

When it comes to being tickled, I don't mess around. Just consider this a warning for all those anxious to take multiple road trips in one month...or drive with us in a car for hours at a time...or TRY and tickle Rachel Ashmore. And that's my story, the end. 

Hi-YA,

Rachel

GRADUATION ALBUM

Hello, Andrew. That is certainly a weird hat you've got on there.

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After years of hard work an sacrifice...

Andrew is the first college graduate in his family!

I cried through the entire thing. This was the result of several factors:

1.) I was proud beyond words.

2.)I was miserably feverish.

3.)I had insomnia from 1-4 that morning and was horribly sleep deprived.

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All of these contributed to one very emotional me.

This was the first graduating class to hold commencement in the newly built BYU-Idaho Center. In case this picture doesn't illustrate it, the place is HUGE.

Its size is comparable to the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, which seats 21,000 people. The BYU-Idaho Center is the same design on a slightly smaller scale. It only seats 15,000.

The other half of Andrew's waving, screaming fan club.

After commencement, the College of Physical Science and Mathematics moved to the Taylor Chapel for convocation.

Beforehand, Andrew chats with his good friend, Dave.

"...Andrew Dee Ashmore...Bachelor's in Construction Management..."

Hooray!

This professor ("Mort") came to shake Andrew's hand afterward, and they both bawled like babies. As such, I figured this would be an important picture to take. Andrew always seems to make best buds with the old guys.

The graduate.

And the proud wife.

...I apologize. This couldn't be helped.

Congrats, Andrew! Now, on to the future, our business, and home building for new professors moving in to teach at the growing University.

That's right. We are both graduated and yet, we are sticking around our small-town Rexburg, Idaho. Who'da thunk we'd settle here? But we are excited for what the future will bring!